Dawlish sea wall collapse

[455driver]

Yep fully operational with no Temporary Speed Restrictions either.

Normal service (for trains at least) has resumed.

 

[Rapidash]

Didn't really notice the speed restrictions on there to be honest. Probably says more about the line than it should

 

[YorkshireBear]

Didn't really notice the speed restrictions on there to be honest. Probably says more about the line than it should

They were very noticeable as the 150 i traveled on was quiet....

 

[starrymarkb]

1. How many driver changes will there be on that service?

Usually Crew Changes at Bristol & Birmingham (not sure on further north)

 

[dk1]

Had a walk as close as possible today and looking good. Several trips across also TSRS free & would hardly know anything had occurred here this year. The line is a credit to the orange army, the stations are a credit to FGW & the user groups/WI & the trains are busier than ever. Great stuff!!

 

[Kite159]

Looked quite good the repairs made in that area.

Sadly coming back a 143 got in the way of the breach site

 

[Woody]

With regard to the Dawlish line and its future, Network Rail’s chief executive Mark Carne and regional managing director Patrick Hallgate outlined their plans for the future of rail travel in the south west at a breakfast organised by the Institute of Directors at St Mellion International Resort (near Plymouth) this week.
A couple of quotes perhaps show what the railway experts may thinking longer term but whether the politicians will agree with them is another of course, "One added benefit of investment would be that an alternative route would be more suited to electrification in the future . At present, the seven mile coastal stretch of the railway would be difficult to upgrade because it is so vulnerable to the weather, but an alternative route would make it easier for electrification to be extended from Bristol into the peninsula." Note via Bristol!
Also "In the short term, work is now under way to make the Dawlish line more resilient by further strengthening the sea wall". Mr Carne also said: "There is a window of opportunity in the political space…. It's up to communities to bring it to a conclusion.
"We're experts in railways, we're not experts in the local economy. You need to help us in being able to sell that story to government."

http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Network-Rail-promises-investment-Cornwall-s/story-

 

[LateThanNever]

With regard to the Dawlish line and its future, Network Rail’s chief executive Mark Carne and regional managing director Patrick Hallgate outlined their plans for the future of rail travel in the south west at a breakfast organised by the Institute of Directors at St Mellion International Resort (near Plymouth) this week.
A couple of quotes perhaps show what the railway experts may thinking longer term but whether the politicians will agree with them is another of course, "One added benefit of investment would be that an alternative route would be more suited to electrification in the future . At present, the seven mile coastal stretch of the railway would be difficult to upgrade because it is so vulnerable to the weather, but an alternative route would make it easier for electrification to be extended from Bristol into the peninsula." Note via Bristol!
Also "In the short term, work is now under way to make the Dawlish line more resilient by further strengthening the sea wall". Mr Carne also said: "There is a window of opportunity in the political space…. It's up to communities to bring it to a conclusion.
"We're experts in railways, we're not experts in the local economy. You need to help us in being able to sell that story to government."

http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Network-Rail-promises-investment-Cornwall-s/story-

Think this is in fact the link (bit of text missing?)
http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Network...t-Cornwall-s/story-21138103-detail/story.html

but interestingly too, according to the West Briton "In Cornwall, investment is likely to be brought forward in signalling that would see control switch to a centre at Didcot in 2018/9 and 10 signal boxes close in the Duchy. Originally due to take place in 2026, this would allow timetable changes so that long distance services are not held behind local trains and, at the same time, the amount of local trains could be increased".

It certainly seems counterintuitive to close down all the signal boxes in Cornwall in order to control them from hundreds of miles away(via the Dawlish sea wall presumably) in order to ensure that long distance trains are not held behind local ones! Can this be correct?

 

[richw]

Think this is in fact the link (bit of text missing?)
http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Network...t-Cornwall-s/story-21138103-detail/story.html

but interestingly too, according to the West Briton "In Cornwall, investment is likely to be brought forward in signalling that would see control switch to a centre at Didcot in 2018/9 and 10 signal boxes close in the Duchy. Originally due to take place in 2026, this would allow timetable changes so that long distance services are not held behind local trains and, at the same time, the amount of local trains could be increased".

It certainly seems counterintuitive to close down all the signal boxes in Cornwall in order to control them from hundreds of miles away(via the Dawlish sea wall presumably) in order to ensure that long distance trains are not held behind local ones! Can this be correct?

It seems they haven't taken benefits onboard of having local signal boxes.
During the issues of February, Newton abbot to Paignton was disrupted due to the signalling running through Dawlish, Everywhere west carried on ok due to local boxes.

 

[HSTEd]

They could route the fibre optic cables further inland if they wanted to.

But that might be a little more expensive.
Local boxes are not the be all and end all though.

 

[TEW]

An upgrade of the signalling in Cornwall is much needed. The present arrangements mean the headway through Cornwall is roughly 20 minutes.

 

[Bald Rick]

They could route the fibre optic cables further inland if they wanted to.

They already are.

 

[LateThanNever]

They already are.

So that, at least, is something that has been learnt! Which (I may be wrong) but I believe was not the case in the last hearing of the Transport Select Committee?

 

[Bald Rick]

Almost all modern electronic signalling has a diverse route for the telecoms that control it, such that a single-point failure is does not fail the system.

So if Penzance is controlled from Didcot, there will be two separate telecoms links to support it.

 

[455driver]

An upgrade of the signalling in Cornwall is much needed. The present arrangements mean the headway through Cornwall is roughly 20 minutes.

All that is needed is some intermediate block signals to break up the long sections, these could easily be controlled by the existing boxes but that of course is far to simple (and cheap) so we will have to spend millions ripping everything out and making the current signallers redundant! :roll:

 

[TEW]

That still wouldn't be that cheap. You're still looking at converting lots of Absolute Block sections to Track Circuit Block to allow intermediate block signals to be installed. And at the end you'd still only have a half decent system. Much better to do it properly and give some real opportunities to improve the service.

 

[455driver]

It would only need one TC section from the previous AB signal to the IB signal at each location.

 

[fgwrich]

Network Rail announces follow-up work to Dawlish Sea Wall following successful reinstatement of train services

Downloads

Friday 30 May 2014
Wales & West


The footpath to be raised in Dawlish







The plans involve raising the sea wall in front of the site of the main breach, to provide extra resilience and support.


The sea wall runs at a high level in front of Dawlish, except for a 340 metre stretch between Coastguards Footbridge and Rockstone (aka Blackbridge) Footbridge. This section was left at a lower level when the railway was originally built in the 19th century due to pressure from a local landowner.

Now, however, the footpath will run at the higher level along the whole section. In addition to offering greater protection, this will mean that pedestrians will be able to use the footpath at high tide. Before now, the footpath was often flooded by the sea at high tide, meaning that safety diversions were needed.

The work will mean that some access to the footpath and beach is limited, but Network Rail is working closely with the local authorities and community to minimise disruption.

Julian Burnell from Network Rail said: “Many residents suggested this solution when we were dealing with the original damage in February and March. Now is the perfect time to raise the footpath and give the sea wall extra protection.

“We need to complete this work before next winter, so we will need to work across the late summer and autumn. We’ve been here long enough to know how important the tourist season is, so we’ll be making sure we cause as little disruption as we can. Wherever we can we will be bringing in material by sea.

“We are also meeting with local residents to discuss any concerns they may have. We’re confident that we can maintain our excellent relationships with the people of Dawlish.”

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ng-successful-reinstatement-of-trai-209c.aspx

Rather than removing the shipping containers, it looks like they may be buried in - depending on what materials are used, i.e large concrete sections or a built up stone finished wall.

 

[Rapidash]

Ah, so they are double skinning it then. Excellent news. Should minimise the chance of a repeat performance! That'll teach that Victorian NIMBY!

 

[jopsuk]

it's fantastic that they're doing this.

 

[colchesterken]

Anyone know if they are putting stone cladding on the new wall, not been down there for about 5 yrs but it looked from the piccies on here that the new wall was plain concrete.Mc Alpine would aprove but not Brunel, and I am sure English Heritage would not be happy

 

[ian959]

Anyone know if they are putting stone cladding on the new wall, not been down there for about 5 yrs but it looked from the piccies on here that the new wall was plain concrete.Mc Alpine would aprove but not Brunel, and I am sure English Heritage would not be happy

I can't help but feel this is one time where English Heritage should be told where to shove it Sometimes the needs of the modern world override the need to preserve everything from the past. Robustness of the rail link to Devon and Cornwall is way more important than preserving a bit of stone wall. Yes I know, very unPC of me... That said I would be fairly certain that no doubt Network Rail will make the changes as sympathetically as possible.

 

[swt_passenger]

Anyone know if they are putting stone cladding on the new wall, not been down there for about 5 yrs but it looked from the piccies on here that the new wall was plain concrete.Mc Alpine would aprove but not Brunel, and I am sure English Heritage would not be happy

There are a number of different finishes. Some areas have been faced in stone, some have been formed from concrete moulded to look like stone, and some are plain concrete. As far as I've seen on various websites and webcamms there seems no intention to leave bare flat concrete on the seaward side of the work sites, it will either be clad or moulded.

As they have just announced, the footpath at the main breach site is now to be raised, so that will almost certainly hide the front face of the concrete slabs used to repair the damage.

 

[daikilo]

I can't help but feel this is one time where English Heritage should be told where to shove it Sometimes the needs of the modern world override the need to preserve everything from the past. Robustness of the rail link to Devon and Cornwall is way more important than preserving a bit of stone wall. Yes I know, very unPC of me... That said I would be fairly certain that no doubt Network Rail will make the changes as sympathetically as possible.

Keying in a cladding would probably weaken the concrete, so not a good idea! Also, not sure Brunel would disapprove as he had an eye for efficiency. Finally, EH doesn't really have a plan following total destruction. Indeed, if anything, it is be quick to protect the rest. Better move those containers before they become landmarks.

 

[Chris125]

BBC: Dawlish railway track alternatives 'too expensive'

Building an alternative to a major railway track destroyed in winter storms would be prohibitively expensive, the BBC understands.

The costs of alternatives to the coastal track at Dawlish in Devon were "eye-watering", said sources.

Chris

 

[NotATrainspott]

How could reinstating the Okehampton line cost that much? There's no point building it to be a proper mainline link that would be used by long-distance trains every day. A single track line with a passing loop or two would be more than sufficient, especially when the section to be reinstated is not the majority of the distance along the route from Exeter to Plymouth. I feel this is going to be a manifesto item for 2015 because if Scotland can reopen the Waverley Route then there's no reason a UK Government can't reopen this one.

 

[dosxuk]

There's no point building it to be a proper mainline link that would be used by long-distance trains every day. A single track line with a passing loop or two would be more than sufficient

Is there really much point building it if it can't be used as a diversion / replacement for the route through Dawlish when that's closed?

What would the public / press response be after spending millions of pounds on reinstating the route after this closure, only to result in there being one or two trains an hour, and every service still disrupted next time that Dawlish shuts?

 

[The Planner]

Are people really that surprised?

 

[infobleep]

Well what was the point of reopening the Waverley? Surely that wasn't for diversion purposes.

 

[Class83]

Well what was the point of reopening the Waverley? Surely that wasn't for diversion purposes.

The Waverley Line isn't being reopened as a through diversionary line, but as a commuter line for Edinburgh, as are parts of the Okehampton Line for Plymouth.