Complete Phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

Background

The Government has paused Phase 5 works of the South West Rail Resilience Programme - cliff strengthening of the railway between Dawlish and Teignmouth. If the cliffs collapse on to the railway, the region will incur huge - and avoidable - economic damage.

Additional details

The cliffs between Dawlish and Teignmouth have long been recognised as the biggest risk to this beautiful but vulnerable railway. It is the only railway connecting Plymouth including Devonport Dockyard, Torbay and Cornwall to the national network and is of huge economic, social, environmental and strategic importance. A major rockfall would close the railway for weeks, if not months, causing huge economic damage to the region. Reinstating these works will prevent that and help the region grow.