Storm to close line at Dawlish evening 23rd to Saturday afternoon (and beyond)

[Snow1964]

From GWR website

Due to severe forecasted weather that will affect the Dawlish sea wall, the lines between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot will probably close from 20:30 on Friday until the earliest 14:00 Saturday when the lines can be inspected.

Live Train Times and Journey Updates | Great Western Railway

See the Great Western Railway TrainTracker for live departure times and up-to-the-minute train journey updates.

www.gwr.com

Looks like being proactive and putting road coaches on standby

We have coaches on standby at Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot that will run the following route if we need to close the line.
If we do need to close the line, any passenger wishing to travel towards Newton Abbot and beyond, will be required to alight at Exeter St Davids for coaches to Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot.

Thought it worth a thread for any updates

 

[co-tr-paul]

Up Night Riviera cancelled.

 

[Snow1964]

Not sure if it is related to bad weather in Devon, but seems to be lot of cancellations to/from Paignton

12 trains cancelled in last 2-3 hours

Realtime Trains | Departures from Torquay all day on 23/01/2026

Train information at Torquay all day on 23/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[VP185]

Not sure if it is related to bad weather in Devon, but seems to be lot of cancellations to/from Paignton

12 trains cancelled in last 2-3 hours

Realtime Trains | Departures from Torquay all day on 23/01/2026

Train information at Torquay all day on 23/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

With one line open through Dawlish they’re picking up delays so I guess some will be turned at Newton Abbot

 

[Dan G]

National Rail has full details of the closure -- looks like it's a certainty.

The Met Office have issued yellow weather warnings across parts of south west England. Storm Ingrid is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds of up to 70mph to the region.

The line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot will close from approximately 20:30 today. It will remain closed until Network Rail can complete inspections of the line which is not expected until 14:00 tomorrow, Saturday 24 January, at the earliest.

The severe weather is also impacting other routes in the area. Trains are currently impacted as follows:

• No CrossCountry services are operating between Exeter St Davids and Paignton / Plymouth
• Great Western Railway services running between Exeter and Paignton / Plymouth may be delayed by up to 30 minutes. These services are expected to be suspended from approximately 20:30 today
• No Great Western Railway services are operating between Plymouth and Penzance
• Service is suspended on the Newquay branch line

Limited rail replacement transport is in operation on some of the affected routes.

You are advised to check your entire journey in full before travelling. You may wish to postpone your journey.

Major disruption is expected until 16:00 on Saturday 24 January...

Is this the first closure since the sea wall upgrades at Dawlish were finished?

 

[Snow1964]

National Rail has full details of the closure -- looks like it's a certainty.

Is this the first closure since the sea wall upgrades at Dawlish were finished?

When they finished the taller, stronger (and in parts further from the track) wall with its wave deflecting top. They hailed it as permanent resilience.

Doesn't appear the resilience was very permanent if line now has to close again.

 

[Vexed]

I'll be watching this one closely as I rather unfortunately booked a trip to Penzance from London for tomorrow a couple months ago.

 

[185143]

Not sure if it is related to bad weather in Devon, but seems to be lot of cancellations to/from Paignton

12 trains cancelled in last 2-3 hours

Realtime Trains | Departures from Torquay all day on 23/01/2026

Train information at Torquay all day on 23/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Guess where I'm currently on a Voyager heading to...

A lot of water in fields around Exeter, is Cowley Bricge at risk too?

 

[800001]

When they finished the taller, stronger (and in parts further from the track) wall with its wave deflecting top. They hailed it as permanent resilience.

Doesn't appear the resilience was very permanent if line now has to close again.

When was the last time it was closed?
The reports are very high waves, all designs have limits.

 

[Dan G]

Guess where I'm currently on a Voyager heading to...

A lot of water in fields around Exeter, is Cowley Bricge at risk too?

Standing water in the Exe and Culm floodplains is normal in winter, though it looks pretty impressive.

 

[VP185]

When they finished the taller, stronger (and in parts further from the track) wall with its wave deflecting top. They hailed it as permanent resilience.

Doesn't appear the resilience was very permanent if line now has to close again.

Permanent resilience from major damage to the infrastructure. ie the route can quickly be reopened following a storm rather then long closures for repairs.

 

[185143]

Got hit with a wave on the approach to Dawlish. Window absolutely drenched in sea water.

Mention of the Night Riviera above, I'm on the down on Sunday night. Hopefully it'll be OK?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jan 2026 ==

Standing water in the Exe and Culm floodplains is normal in winter, though it looks pretty impressive.

I'll bow to your local knowledge!

Not been in this area at all since January last year, and that was in the dark on 1V60/Night Riviera. A return visit felt long overdue.

 

[AY1975]

Up Night Riviera cancelled.

And the Down one too, I presume?

Any news about what (if any) arrangements are being made for pre-booked passengers?

 

[Snow1964]

Cross Country now have following message on their website.

Storm Ingrid​

The Met Office have issued yellow weather warnings across parts of south west England. Storm Ingrid is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds, possibly up to 70mph, across the region.
As a result, the line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot will close from approximately 20:30 today, with no CrossCountry services running from 17:00.It will remain closed until Network Rail can complete inspections of the line which is not expected until 14:00 tomorrow, Saturday 24 January, at the earliest.

Yellow warning (not Amber or red take acation)

Stopping trains 3.5 hours earlier than line closure, just before the rush hour

Is this not a bit over cautious, stopping around 7pm I could understand, but 5pm seems early and doesn't help passengers get home.

Is this just another example of XC don't care about their customers who have bought tickets approach. If there are coaches on standby it's not like any crews are going to be stranded overnight if they continue to 7pm or 8pm

 

[185143]

Cross Country now have following message on their website.



Yellow warning (not Amber or red take acation)

Stopping trains 3.5 hours earlier than line closure, just before the rush hour

Is this not a bit over cautious, stopping around 7pm I could understand, but 5pm seems early and doesn't help passengers get home.

From what I can gather, XC are giving up then. Presumably for operational reasons to avoid crew and trains being stranded?

GWR are saying the line is likely to close at 20;30.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I seem to recall Voyagers are more susceptible to damage due to the roof braking resistors?

 

[co-tr-paul]

Currently, down Night Riviera terminating at Exeter and an IET.

 

[Rich McLean]

When they finished the taller, stronger (and in parts further from the track) wall with its wave deflecting top. They hailed it as permanent resilience.

Doesn't appear the resilience was very permanent if line now has to close again.

Wave height (before it hits the wall) is predicted to be above the wall height at high tide + surge height. The real issue is boulders being thrown onto the track, potentially derailing a train or smashing through windows with conditions too dangerous to preform a rescue.

Don't forget there are lengths of that stretch between the Warren and Teignmouth which haven't received strengthening work.

 

[JUMOUK]

Guess where I'm currently on a Voyager heading to...

A lot of water in fields around Exeter, is Cowley Bricge at risk too?

Unlikely, it’s pretty normal there in winter, Hele usually poses more of a risk of closure.

In addition to the work that was done at cowley bridge itself, a few weirs in the Exe were also removed near Pynes water treatment works, so the river level sits about 1 metre lower than previous years

 

[eastdyke]

Yellow warning (not Amber or red take acation)

Stopping trains 3.5 hours earlier than line closure, just before the rush hour

Is this not a bit over cautious, stopping around 7pm I could understand, but 5pm seems early and doesn't help passengers get home.

Is this just another example of XC don't care about their customers who have bought tickets approach. If there are coaches on standby it's not like any crews are going to be stranded overnight if they continue to 7pm or 8pm

There is a Red Warning of flooding for South Devon coast locations, including Dawlish, posted at 12.48 today.

South Devon coast at Beesands, Torcross, Slapton and Dawlish flood warning area - GOV.UK

Flooding information and advice for the area: Exposed coastal areas at Hallsands, Beesands, Torcross, Slapton, Blackpool Sands, Teignmouth Promenade and Dawlish.

check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk

High tides, strong winds and large waves are expected to cause flooding this evening.

Flooding is expected from 07:30PM to 11:30PM on Friday.

Significant wave overtopping is likely due to large waves and strong winds.

Seems proportional to me.

 

[Haywain]

I'm glad I decided against going to the football at Plymouth tomorrow, especially with the early kick-off

 

[swt_passenger]

When they finished the taller, stronger (and in parts further from the track) wall with its wave deflecting top. They hailed it as permanent resilience.

Doesn't appear the resilience was very permanent if line now has to close again.

It was never described as being capable of allowing rail movement in all major storm conditions. In any case there are still areas either side of Dawlish where no work has been done.

 

[Horizon22]

Cross Country now have following message on their website.



Yellow warning (not Amber or red take acation)

Stopping trains 3.5 hours earlier than line closure, just before the rush hour

Is this not a bit over cautious, stopping around 7pm I could understand, but 5pm seems early and doesn't help passengers get home.

Is this just another example of XC don't care about their customers who have bought tickets approach. If there are coaches on standby it's not like any crews are going to be stranded overnight if they continue to 7pm or 8pm

You've got to think about even if the train can get through the block in time, it might not be able to go back the other way and if that's where the stock is meant to be, there might be cancellations tomorrow.

 

[Sleepy]

And the Down one too, I presume?

Any news about what (if any) arrangements are being made for pre-booked passengers?

Anyone not contacted this afternoon by GWR will be offered hotel accommodation as is normal when sleeper is cancelled.

 

[co-tr-paul]

As per #17

 

[Russel]

When they finished the taller, stronger (and in parts further from the track) wall with its wave deflecting top. They hailed it as permanent resilience.

Doesn't appear the resilience was very permanent if line now has to close again.

The rest of the sea wall outside of Dawlish is still the original.

Currently, down Night Riviera terminating at Exeter and an IET.

Does make you wonder if it's even worth running it?

 

[JulienD]

Up Night Riviera cancelled.

GWR have told me the sleeper's cancelled in both directions tonight

 

[co-tr-paul]

800035 booked for down to Exeter.
Unsure if forward road transport available.

 

[Haywain]

Does make you wonder if it's even worth running it?

There's no point in stranding more people than necessary.

 

[JulienD]

800035 booked for down to Exeter.

Currently it's at Savernake running 1A88 Penzance to Paddington, running 51mins late. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P22608/2026-01-23/detailed