Dawlish News

About 180 passengers stranded for three hours as severe weather sent waves crashing over their train in Devon are set to be offered a full fare refund. The Glasgow to Penzance Virgin service came to a halt at about 1730 GMT on Friday after huge waves caused damage to tracks near Dawlish in Devon. The train was towed into Dawlish station at about 2110 GMT. A Virgin trains spokesman said letters would be going out on Saturday offering refunds to passengers. Passengers were stuck just a few hundred yards from Dawlish station. The train company said it had understood there would be no weather problems on Friday evening with high tide due at 1830 GMT. "But the weather took a sudden turn for the worse and the wind came from the wrong direction," said the Virgin spokesman. "We were in the wrong place at the wrong time." The service had stopped at a signal when a wave crashed over the sea wall on to the Virgin Voyager train, causing electrical problems.