Dawlish sea wall collapse

[SimonS]

We've already had a professional opinion from the network rail boss on Sky who said 6 weeks minimum.

Let's see if he ends up looking a plonker when it takes months not weeks. Although on the scale of Thameslink 2000 a few months would be impressive.

 

[dosxuk]

Let's see if he ends up looking a plonker when it takes months not weeks.

Why would he look a plonker for being proven correct? After all, he said it would take a minimum of 6 weeks.

 

[455driver]

That doesn't look good at all, though it might cause some proper defences to be installed. I'm thinking a 5 high bank of 1m diameter rocks on the beach then replace the wall which appears to have been a stone/brick/mortar job with a single reinforced concrete structure.

Which would take the sea about 10 minutes to rip apart, if you havent seen the sea in angry mode then you cannot comprehend the power of it!
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Quote:

We've already had a professional opinion from the network rail boss on Sky who said 6 weeks minimum.

Let's see if he ends up looking a plonker when it takes months not weeks. Although on the scale of Thameslink 2000 a few months would be impressive.

He will only look a plonker if it is fixed within 6 weeks!
he said it would take at least 6 weeks to fix, if it takes longer than that then he was right because it would have taken at least 6 weeks!

 

[SimonS]

Which would take the sea about 10 minutes to rip apart, if you havent seen the sea in angry mode then you cannot comprehend the power of it!
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He will only look a plonker if it is fixed within 6 weeks!
he said it would take at least 6 weeks to fix, if it takes longer than that then he was right because it would have taken at least 6 weeks!

By mentioning 6 weeks it suggests a relatively quick fix.

6 months is totally different.

My point is why would you go on TV making those comments only hours after the event when without detailed examination he hasn't a scooby how long it will take.

Did NR say it would take until at least 2000 to get the Thameslink upgraded sorted.

 

[68000]

Did NR say it would take until at least 2000 to get the Thameslink upgraded sorted.

They did not

 

[dosxuk]

By mentioning 6 weeks it suggests a relatively quick fix.

No more than "services are delayed for approximately 90 minutes" appearing whenever the job is stopped.

 

[Bald Rick]

By mentioning 6 weeks it suggests a relatively quick fix.

6 months is totally different.

My point is why would you go on TV making those comments only hours after the event when without detailed examination he hasn't a scooby how long it will take.

In answer to the question "how long is it going to take" Mr Hallgate's first words were "it's very difficult to say" before explaining that there needs to be a full structural assessment, then "off the top of our head it's 4-6 weeks" then again "it's too early to say"

So hardly a definitive timescale, and who can blame him.

 

[Johnuk123]

I bet you they're still working on the area by May.

 

[PG]

Would reinstating the washed away section(s) as a single line be a possibility, or would that completely mess up the timetable? Was just thinking it might give more room for improved sea defences, though I'm no civil engineer so this might be irrelevant.

 

[Rich McLean]

Would reinstating the washed away section(s) as a single line be a possibility, or would that completely mess up the timetable? Was just thinking it might give more room for improved sea defences, though I'm no civil engineer so this might be irrelevant.

Up to 4tph in both directions, not going to happen.

 

[richw]

I'm guessing some kind of bridge structure would be most appropriate?

 

[Kite159]

Hopefully that part of Devon has seen the worst of the weather and the damage won't get worst.

 

[Furrball]

A few more pics via Twitter

 

[Rich McLean]

That house is coming down, only a matter of time

 

[bnm]

Even if nature doesn't bring it down, I suspect it'll have to be demolished.

 

[D1009]

I was there this afternoon, all of the accesses to the sea wall have police cordon tape across them, however everyone seems to be ignoring them, there were literally hundreds of people viewing and photographing the damage!

 

[Furrball]

I'm guessing that this must have been not long after the breech given the colour of the spray

 

[Goatboy]

Interesting one here..

(Source: Dailymail)

 

[Rich McLean]

If you have looked at what has happened there (and what almost certainly is still going to happen) the rail trajectory and the houses behind are a total loss. Only a viaduct solution seems remotely possible and then is it really sustainable?

Ahh I see now. In that case, a viaduct over it does seem to be the only solution for now, but that house will more than likely have to be demolished first.

Anyway, more storms Friday, so will be a lot more damage

 

[Goatboy]

If you have looked at what has happened there (and what almost certainly is still going to happen) the rail trajectory and the houses behind are a total loss. Only a viaduct solution seems remotely possible and then is it really sustainable? What you say about the land behind is equally valid.

I disagree, obviously neither of us are civil engineers but if you look at the low tide pictures it would seem possible to rebuild the wall and then infill the section between the wall and the cliff, supporting both the new trackbed, the road and the house.

The footpath at the base of the wall (this is on the section where the footpath is a good 8 foot below the railway) is remarkably still intact.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/05/article-2552027-1B374A6700000578-43_964x771.jpg

 

[sonic2009]

That looks bad. I wonder if that track will be there tommorow?

 

[D1009]

Interesting one here..



(Source: Dailymail)

That's taken with one of the "long lenses" which the tabloid press is famous for.

 

[Starmill]

Daily Mail? Don't tell me it was captioned "Look how many track workers it takes to investigate a bit of shifting track bed!"

 

[Cletus]

There was footage on the news earlier of the general public on the footpath & beach taking photos, etc (when the tide had gone out). Also on the main thread.

 

[Cletus]

One of the men up on the track is saying "wave" to the men on the footpath below.

 

[DaveHarries]

here

I see they say that engineers qare working on 50m (165ft) of track. I heard on another BBC article it was 46m (150ft) of track. Either way I think that 6 weeks will be the minimum taken to get that fixed.

Meanwhile here is a picture that I was linked into on another forum showing some of the damage at Dawlish:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1689800_10202144988161073_986403273_n.jpg

Dave

 

[yorksrob]

Only a viaduct solution seems remotely possible and then is it really sustainable? What you say about the land behind is equally valid.

We shouldn't get too carried away. This stretch of route will always have its problems, and you'll never be able to completely build out all risks associated with severe weather, but so long as you have a contingency, these can be managed.

 

[MadCommuter]

My guess is that a cofferdam will need to be built first, the water pumped out, and then the main works of reconstructing the sea wall can begin. Access will be an issue and possibly restricted to low tide, although I don't know if access from the beach is possible to bring materials in.

 

[YorkshireBear]

At least NR have got there seen the damage so they know what they are dealing with that is the important thing. At low tide it sure looked calm!!!

As a civil engineer the viaduct thing seems like a risky idea that i wouldnt personally give any time to.

 

[CalderRail]

The first thing they'll have to do, as soon as possible, is stop the sea doing any more damage. Temporary measures to protect the rest of the wall and the land behind form further erosion first, rebuild the wall second.

They should talk to the Dutch. They have some nifty solutions for temporary flood and tide defences.