Network Rail has announced that services to Plymouth and Cornwall resumed on Saturday after lines were reopened. This followed a landslip on the Teignmouth-Dawlish section on Thursday. Both tracks reopened at 5am today with a 20 mph speed restriction towards London and 50 mph from London.
Up to 1,500 tonnes of soil, which fell onto track during the landslide, will have to be cleared by workmen and loaded onto wagons. By Friday evening 500 tonnes had already been cleared, allowing lines to re-open.
In a complicated operation, maintenance workers were able to give back the lines up for ten minutes in each hour. This allowed for the passage of a variety of freight and CrossCountry passenger services and a First Great Western high speed service. They then retook control of the line for the freight train to return to site to load remaining empty wagons with spoil.
Up to 1,500 tonnes of soil, which fell onto track during the landslide, will have to be cleared by workmen and loaded onto wagons. By Friday evening 500 tonnes had already been cleared, allowing lines to re-open.
In a complicated operation, maintenance workers were able to give back the lines up for ten minutes in each hour. This allowed for the passage of a variety of freight and CrossCountry passenger services and a First Great Western high speed service. They then retook control of the line for the freight train to return to site to load remaining empty wagons with spoil.
