Severe Weather to Force Closure of Dawlish Coastal Rail Route

Great Western Railway and Network Rail have confirmed that rail services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot will be suspended this evening as severe weather is forecast to impact the Dawlish sea wall.

Weather forecasts for the south west indicate prolonged heavy rainfall alongside coastal wind gusts of up to 60mph coinciding with high tide. These conditions significantly increase the risk of sea water overtopping the sea wall and debris being deposited on the railway, prompting the precautionary closure.

The line will close from 2030 today, Friday 24 January, and is expected to remain shut until at least 1400 on Saturday 25 January to allow for safety inspections. Service disruption is likely to continue until around 1600 on Saturday. Passengers intending to travel today or tomorrow are being advised to check their journeys in advance, with those travelling this evening encouraged to complete their journeys by 2000 where possible.

To support passengers during the closure, GWR has put replacement coach arrangements in place:

• Passengers travelling to stations between Plymouth and Penzance should change at Tiverton Parkway for coach services to Plymouth, where train services will operate for onward journeys
• Passengers heading to stations between Teignmouth and Newton Abbot should change at Exeter St Davids for coach services to Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot
• Replacement coaches will operate from the front of stations until midday on Saturday
• Customers with tickets dated to travel today through the affected area may use those tickets up to and including Sunday 25 January. Passengers holding advance tickets for travel this evening, Friday 23 January, may also travel earlier today using those tickets

Train tickets will also be accepted on Stagecoach South West bus services 2, 7 and 12.

Passengers are advised to keep checking live departure information via the GWR website or station departure boards, or to consider postponing travel until services return to normal.

Image: Great Western Railway