Dawlish News
David Cameron has said all proposed alternative rail routes to the vulnerable Dawlish line "remain on the table" despite suggestions it could cost up to £3 billion.
The Western Morning News understands a report compiled by track managers Network Rail detailing alternatives to the route that collapsed this winter is to be handed to the Department for Transport tomorrow.
Reports have suggested seven alternative options were considered, and they were given price tags of between £500 million and £3 billion, taking decades to complete.
But some fear the details have been briefed by a small number of opponents anxious to scupper any scheme that would see trains re-routed away from the south Devon coast.
A Network Rail source told the WMN that despite suggestions the options were "too expensive" its engineers had made no "value judgement" on whether the Government should back any of the projects or not.
Westcountry rail expert Neill Mitchell said even the most expensive estimates – which have yet to be confirmed – are modest sums in the context of a "once in a 150-year project".
And during a visit to Cornwall to confirm a £150 million rail boost for Cornwall today, the Prime Minister told the WMN: "We have the study looking at the different options and all these alternatives remain on the table."
Support for major rail investment in the region was underlined by business leaders spoken to by the WMN, with one arguing how the peninsula makes do with an "outdated 19th century rail line whilst the rest of the UK is moving towards a 21st century network".
@flo - thanks muchly.
@Mcjrpc - will be interesting indeed to see if the g'ovt actually commits to something, indeed anything, before the next election.
The below WMN link sums up what in an ideal world should be done rather than piffle around endlessly for another 150years.
Appreciate it is easy for me to say as it won't be my house or field disappearing.
I do think the mileage claim is a tad optimistic, as I got my little ruler out and even with a dead straight line between the two stations I don't see how the 20miles Exeter to NA can be shortened to anything less than 14miles (i.e. 6miles less not the 8miles less claimed in the article). 15 or 16miles is more realistic.
Nevertheless, at 16miles, the journey time would need an average start-stop speed of 96mph to take 10minutes - i.e. designed to 125mph max.
So not much of a time saving c.f. the 16 to 17mins taken by Cross Country Trains - so don't get too excited Plymouth!!
But more importantly disruption proof and ready for electrification some time in the next 100years 
...and please don't ask me what I am going to do with the 7minutes of my life saved going through a tunnel rather than seeing the beautiful coast 
I noticed when interviewed he skirted the question without making any commitment he already knows the outcome my guess he's lying and what we have we will have to put up with.
For what it is worth I have just e-mailed this to our MP.
Thanks muchly for asking Lynne.
Would suggest that the contents of the report will be made public once the G'ovt has prepped the Department of Transport with enough well presented polite excuses for why none of the 'weather proof line proposals' have sufficient cost/benefit 
.
How many hundreds of millions did businesses claim to lose last winter?
Anyway, look no further than the reconstruction of 30miles of the 'Waverley Line' from Edinburgh to see what commitment to a region really means.
At least provide the 'cheap option' of Meldon to Tavistock, is only 12miles and far more of the route remains intact than was the case on the Waverley line.
http://www.bordersrailway.co.uk/project/opening-celebrations.aspx
p.s. Mr Streeter MP is quite right to say (WMN 04/07) that the SW must speak 'with one voice in the peninsula'. United we stand... etc
If the SW is to speak with one voice then the coast line through Dawlish and Teignmouth is doomed from the off. With joint populations of under 30,000, what chance do we have against the whole of Cornwall, Plymouth and most of Exeter.
Whilst having an open mind on the future of the line, it would certainly do no harm to have a plan in place for redeveloping what would remian after its closure. On the proactive side it could mean a blank canvass for Dawlish and the Warren and providing investment and good design are in place the opertunities could be immense.
First off we must keep up the argument for the off-shore islands like Sidmouth's in order to protect what ever else happens on shore.
@FredBassett ...speaking with one voice is perfectly possible with no losers if the sw backs oke-tavy...although this isn't the true engineering solution, it is the most affordable, least disruptive and could be done in a fraction of the time of a fast dal. also changes nothing about committment to the devon riviera line. should ideally include a 'north of cowley chord' (if the cowley bridge flooding issue remains unresolved).
@Clive. NR are going to raise the Dawlish Seawall where the footpath goes lower. This is subject to planning permission. Still some people moaning that people will look into there houses. If granted, work could start next month.
