With all the chaos caused by the floods at Dawlish, I've been wondering if anyone's ever thought about reopening the line that used to run along the northern edge of Dartmoor.
There's a surviving freight-only line branching off near Crediton that runs to Okehampton and Meldon Quarry, and another line that runs from Plymouth to the former junction at Bere Alston (on the Gunnislake branch), and they used to be connected by a line that ran along the Tavy and Burn rivers through Tavistock and Lydford.
All the structures seem to be in place, there's very little development in this area to obstruct the former line, and with the weather conditions getting worse every year, I'd have thought an inland Plymouth - Exeter route would be invaluable. Meldon Viaduct isn't in any fit state to carry trains anymore, so a new span would have to be built (hopefully alongside, not replacing!), but that seems to be the only major engineering work needed.
The Dartmoor Railway has already resumed weekend passenger services from Exeter to Okehampton, and the Gunnislake branch is still open, imagine what would happen if these two commercially viable branches became an intercity service, and relief route for the Dawlish line in times of flood. It would also be a major boost to tourism in the area.
Any thoughts?
Alternative Plymouth-Exeter route
Could have done with an alternative route yesterday and today.
The line between Exeter and Newton Abbot is closed - should be reopening at 15:30 tomorrow.
Also, St David's, Tiverton and Taunton were experiencing 'disruption' earlier in the evening i.e.: everything was f&^+%d - haven't seen as must flood water between Exeter and Tiverton for a long, long time.
The line between Exeter and Newton Abbot is closed - should be reopening at 15:30 tomorrow.
Also, St David's, Tiverton and Taunton were experiencing 'disruption' earlier in the evening i.e.: everything was f&^+%d - haven't seen as must flood water between Exeter and Tiverton for a long, long time.
