Dawlish rockfall shelter approved

Teignbridge District Council has approved Network Rail plans to extend a rockfall shelter over the Exeter-Plymouth line between Holcombe and Dawlish. The work is part of NR’s long-term resilience programme for the section between Newton Abbot and Exeter.

The existing rockfall shelter will be extended by 209 metres to provide extra protection from the unstable cliffs, which have long been recognised as the greatest threat to safe operation of the railway in the area. Work on the £37.4 million project is due to start this August, with completion taking around a year.

Preparatory works started in March with vegetation management, and the design of the shelter will have open sides, preserving the sea view for passengers.