PM calls for: 'a proper alternative service and solution' to destroyed Dawlish rail line

The Prime Minster, David Cameron has said he is determined to give the public “a proper alternative service and solution” to the destroyed train line in Dawlish.

The train line which was destroyed when Tuesday night’s storm breached the Dawlish Seawall is not expected to be functionally repaired until at least the 18th March despite full scale repair works.

Many of the services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot are running limited replacement bus services until this date. However rail operators have said that the service is dependent on local road conditions.

These disruptions are estimated cost businesses in Devon and Cornwall between £1m and £2m each day, according to Tim Jones of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting of COBR - the goverment’s emergency committee - the Prime Minister said: “My sympathy is with everyone affected by the ongoing storms which are causing misery to communities and businesses across the country.

“With power outages, more flooding and more bad weather forecast, I have chaired a COBR this afternoon to ensure that everything that can be done to get stricken communities moving is being done: there are no restrictions on help.

“I have seen the shocking pictures of the destroyed train line in Dawlish and I am determined that while it is out of action, the public get a proper alternative service and a solution is found to fix it, as soon as possible.

“The government will continue to hold emergency COBR meetings to ensure these problems are sorted out.”

Mr Cameron has also pledged a further £100 million to be made available to cover the cost of some of the flood repairs but many believe a longer term solution is necessary.

Devon County Council Leader John Hart yesterday called on the government to help improve the resilience of the South West’s transport system.

Mr Hart said: “the time has come for the Government to take more action to make sure that Devon and Cornwall don’t get cut off for weeks every winter.

“We need urgently to look at how our rail links can be better protected and how we can keep the region’s roads open and safe for drivers.

“Obviously there is a real human cost from this latest appalling weather and my heart goes out to the families who’ve been affected.

“But there is a very serious economic cost to these events which affect all of us in Devon and the South West.

Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes writes on twitter: “HS2 to North, Thomas the tank engine & replacement bus to the Southwest! Electricity & dual route for resilience required

“right now [the] greatest threat to tourism & business is our rail line being cut off ; hardly 'extreme event' if an annual misery”

MPs from across Devon and Cornwall met Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and senior executives from Network Rail yesterday.

South West Devon Conservative MP Gary Streeter said the meeting had been “positive” adding: “We received a firm commitment to look at longer term solutions to address our resilience problem including possible alternative routes.

“I’m confident the Government has fully got a grip of it, we just need to keep the pressure on to ensure a solution is found.”

Communities’ secretary Eric Pickles will chair a further COBR meeting later today, standing in for Environment Secretary Owen Paterson who is undergoing emergency surgery for a detached retina.

Mr Paterson has recently come under criticism from commentators including the South West Green party who called on the Prime Minister to sack him for “gross incompetence.”

Dr Molly Scott Cato, South West Green Party European candidate said: “Paterson seems to have no idea what the environment means or what it means to be the minister for it.

“Rather than protecting the natural world he only visits the countryside to look for opportunities to exploit and profit from it.

“Since he is unconvinced by the science behind climate change he is unlikely to be the right person to develop policies to address this most significant problem we face;

“climate change goes to the heart of the flood problems afflicting communities living in the Somerset Levels.”

More heavy rain is expected to hit the South West later today and remain until Saturday morning according to Met Office forecasters who have issued  severe “amber - be prepared” warnings in Devon.

A further 20mm-40mm of rain is expected to fall on already saturated ground from 3pm today, heavy rain is expected to remain until early saturday morning.

The Environment Agency is warning against further flooding across Devon and the South West but has reduced the severity of many of its flood warnings.

The Agency currently has still has two Severe “danger to life” warnings in place In the South West including in the Somerset levels and has issued 18 “immediate action” flood warnings for areas  including Exmouth.

These warnings are updated often to reflect the current circumstances so may change once the rainfall begins.