Two-week closure of GWML in south Devon - infrastructure work?

[apbj]

Buses replace trains on ALL London - southwest England services during two separate week-long blockades at the end of Feb and beginning of March, mostly between Tiverton to Plymouth, but the line is open as far as Totnes for Exeter and local services. Given the scale of the closure I wondered what was being done? GWR note just says "structural renewal works". Would imagine something drainage related given how wet Ivybridge gets, but does anyone know?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Replacement of railway bridge near Marsh Mills, Plymouth.

 

[Ian Hardy]

Buses replace trains on ALL London - southwest England services during two separate week-long blockades at the end of Feb and beginning of March, mostly between Tiverton to Plymouth, but the line is open as far as Totnes for Exeter and local services. Given the scale of the closure I wondered what was being done? GWR note just says "structural renewal works". Would imagine something drainage related given how wet Ivybridge gets, but does anyone know?

The buses run from Tiverton Parkway fast to Plymouth as Tiverton Parkway is right next to the M5 and a coach leaving Tiverton Parkway will be at lot further down the A38 than a coach stuck in traffic getting from Exeter St Davids station to the A38.
Tiverton Parkway to Plymouth 1 hour 4 mins (likely to be possible)
Exeter St Davids to Plymouth 58 mins (unlikely to be possible)
Totnes to Plymouth 37 minutes (but then add the journey time on the train from Tiverton Parkway to Totnes which is 50 minutes.

 

[stuving]

It's not a total replacement. Network Rail's page on the work says:

We need to strengthen the 50-metre long bridge to make sure it remains safe for decades to come. Trains that use the bridge are now faster, heavier and more frequent. If no work is done, it increases the risk of a fault developing in the near future.

134 steel rail bearers will be installed between the existing cross-beams on the bridge. New FFU rail bearers will also be laid along the length of the bridge. FFU is a synthetic wood that’s lighter and more durable than traditional timber, it lasts six times as long and requires far less maintenance.

180 metres of track will be replaced over and either side of the bridge and the bridge will also be repainted.

 

[Ashley Hill]

AIUI it is this bridge pictured circled below having the work done. A fair bit of Tavistock Jct yard has been cleared presumably for the worksite.

Google Maps

 

[apbj]

It's not a total replacement. Network Rail's page on the work says:

Replacement of railway bridge near Marsh Mills, Plymouth.

Thank you both, for some reason I couldn't find that page on NR site. Makes sense that it's a major asset that needs overhaul.

Yes, the non-stop bus from Tiverton to Plymouth is a sensible option for the reasons outlined and it has worked well before. Timings on the website/tickets allow for 1h 20 plus about 10m connections at either end so there's plenty of slack as long as the A38/M5 are clear. With the Plymouth-Penzance section being operated by stoppers, the fastest overall journey from Truro in this period is about 5h40 compared to the usual 4h40.

Only problem for me personally is the removal of most advance tickets from sale in order to curb demand; this is understandable, as GWR wants to be handling as few people as possible over the affected weeks, but it does sting to be paying full whack for a much slower service, and presumably on smaller DMUs in Cornwall too.

 

[Snow1964]

The Exeter area seems to be getting lot of big closures, not just a few miles, but half way across the county

There is also full closure of the Exeter-Barnstaple line and Exeter-Oakhampton line from Saturday 21st March to Sunday 29th March due to work at Crediton.

Also Exeter-Tiverton Parkway will also be closed Sunday morning 29th March.

Schools generally break up for Easter holidays on Friday 27th March so this work affects those going to/from South west at start of school holidays, which seems odd choice of timing.