Flooding Brings Rail Network in Devon and Cornwall to a Standstill

Severe flooding across Devon and Cornwall is set to disrupt rail travel for several days, with Network Rail and Great Western Railway warning passengers to avoid attempting journeys on a number of routes.

A series of back-to-back storms has brought prolonged heavy rain to the region, leading to widespread flooding and forcing the closure of several branch lines. Services are currently suspended between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple, Exeter St Davids and Okehampton via Crediton, Liskeard and Looe, and Par and Newquay.

Poor road conditions mean replacement bus services cannot operate on these routes at present. Rail operators say buses will only be introduced if conditions improve enough to allow them to run safely. Network Rail teams expect the affected branch lines to remain closed for several days while safety checks and repairs are carried out, with no train services running in the meantime.

Disruption is also affecting the main line between Taunton and Exeter St Davids, where deep and fast-moving floodwater at Hele has made the route impassable. Customers are being advised to travel only if absolutely necessary, with trains unable to operate and only limited replacement buses available. This section of line is expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday 28 January.

Passengers using replacement transport are being warned that journeys may take significantly longer than normal, as flooding has also impacted local roads across the area.

Further disruption is planned later in the week, with emergency engineering work closing the route between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot from 19:00 on Wednesday 28 January until 07:00 on Thursday 28 January. The closure follows the discovery of a large sinkhole measuring 8 metres by 3.5 metres close to the railway between Dawlish and Teignmouth after Storm Ingrid.

Despite the closures, services will continue to operate between London and Taunton or Exeter St Davids, and between Newton Abbot and Penzance. Replacement buses will run between Taunton, Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot, as well as between Taunton, Exeter St Davids and Plymouth and Tiverton Parkway. The Night Riviera Sleeper will not operate in either direction between Paddington and Penzance on Wednesday evening, but is due to resume on Thursday 29 January.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, said:

“Intense rainfall over the past few days has caused significant flooding across parts of Devon and Cornwall, and we’ve had to close four branch lines in the region as a result. Flooding in the Hele area of Devon means the main line between Taunton and Exeter St Davids is also closed. We’re really sorry for the disruption this is causing for passengers. Our teams are on the ground around the clock, working as quickly as we safely can to assess the impact of the flooding. Once the water recedes, we’ll need to carry out safety inspections before the lines can reopen. Given the scale of the flooding, disruption is expected for the next few days on the branch lines. Our teams will prioritise reopening the main line between Taunton and Exeter St Davids as soon as they are able to do so. Please continue to check before travelling for the latest updates.”

Image: Network Rail