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No exaggeration at all. I intermittently monitored what could be seen on the webcam from approx. 9.30am to just after noon and the waves were really getting angry. In fact, it looked pretty scary and this weather was mild compared to the storms earlier in the year. Suggest you view the replay...

Yesterday was a bad day for travel along the sea wall. If any members had a look at the video posted here or took a look at the live webcam you will know what I mean. How was Brunel able to construct the sea wall in the first place without all the work being washed away during times of bad...

Just been having a look at live video from the Dawlish Beach webcam and things are getting very rough along the sea wall. If any members can access this live stream it's well worth a visit although you will have to subscribe. Looking at the video shows that an alternative route is necessary...

But a northern alternative route would carry thousands of passengers if the same disastrous consequences happened again along the sea wall or at any of the other neighbouring coastal locations. From what I can see without considering BCRs and other statistical facts is that the Dartmoor route...

The track bed of the former LSWR through the Dartmoor National Park is still in place so I cannot see this stretch of the old route being a major problem. Some of the route was sold off and is privately owned as is the stations at Brentor and Tavistock. The old route also passes through what is...

In the short term, I think that reinstatement of the Dartmoor route would seem to be the most cost-effective solution compared to the huge costs of the other alternatives. Even with a contingency figure included of 66% it is still the most practical solution to providing what is required -...

So, it would appear that the most sensible option has been deferred along with the Exe valley route leaving five other options. Whichever of the five other options is selected would be no financial match for the northern route that is practically still in place. In the long term I still think a...

Over the last couple of days I have been watching the Dawlish webcam and have noticed that even in mild storm conditions a vast amount of spray is washing over the sea wall and the railway line. Besides being hair-raising for the train driver and probably some of the passengers I am wondering...

Yes, but those millimetres over 11,000 years mount up. Scientific studies have been carried out by various universities and scholars highlighting the problem of coastal erosion along the south coast. There is a reference to a thesis by Dawson somewhere in this thread which is very informative...

Alright, I will admit there is a degree of romantic hysteria but, in my view, there is also a very urgent need for the Dartmoor line to be reinstated as the most promising alternative to the Dawlish route. It's probably the easiest constructional option due to the route being in place and...

I do not think there is any "romantic hysteria" for reopening the Dartmoor route as before Beeching it was the main Southern Region line from Waterloo to Plymouth and Padstow. In fact, the Atlantic Coast Express travelled this route. Now, it's a question of necessity that an alternative...

Yes, the Dartmoor route would benefit Okehampton and Tavistock but not only those stations as there are other stations on the route that are either operational or could be refurbished. The idea of an alternative route is to keep the trains running all year round with the minimum of disruption...

Many thanks for providing that information. It would appear from your figures that the rail distance in all cases is longer than the road distance but rail is probably the faster option if trains are not prone to any holdups. Although the Okehampton route is slightly longer than the coastal...

So my figure of 55 miles was incorrect by 40% - my apologies as I wouldn't wish to mislead anyone but you have to admit that the route I quoted is more miles by rail than it is by road. Now what about the Exeter to Plymouth and the Plymouth to Penzance routes. How do they compare?

47802, Anyone would think you own a property on the old route the way you are writing. Do you? The long term view cannot be considered at present only what action can be taken in the short term. The reinstatement of the old Dartmoor route can be brought about by action NOW without the usual...

You have to remember that when the route was constructed to Plymouth and beyond in the early 1800s, speed was not a major factor but a railway provided the convenience of being able to travel between cities rather than using a horse-drawn carriage. Geography of the area was a contributing factor...

Yes, and let's hope everything goes according to plan but it still does not solve the problem. An alternative route has now become a urgent necessity unless you can see NR spending millions widening the sea wall by about 20 feet. Unfortunately, the reinstatement of the north Dartmoor route is...

I think it could be down to the fact that high tide sea levels are higher now than say fifty or a hundred years ago. The other consideration is that the southern half of the country is sinking whilst the northern half is rising. I would imagine in Brunel's day the southern land mass would have...

But just imagine the conditions during a storm-force scenario. How did Brunel manage to construct the majority of the wall without it being washed away? Now we can see why an alternative route is urgently required.

I have just been having a look at the Dawlish Livestream web cam and I think there is some concern about the amount of spray washing over the track. A helicopter has also been circling round the area so I suspect they may be taking some video of the rough sea and how it is affecting the route...