Railway line made safe as storm clean-up begins

Engineers have made the main railway line in the south-west of England safe after a sea wall next to it collapsed in a storm. Following an inspection of safety critical sections of the track, Network Rail said a limited service was now operating in Dawlish. In two places, a sea wall separating the railway line in the town collapsed asStorm Ingrid struck the south Devon coast on Saturday, prompting a clean-up. Despite pretty trying conditions and speed limits being in place, disruptions were avoided, according to James Crook of Network Rail.

For the second time since a storm destroyed sections of the track around Dawlishin February 2014, Network Rail had issued a black alert, the highest warning level, for the second straight time since.

We've had a lot of people out on track in some very trying situations,

Crook said. It may take a little bit longer than normal.The biggest thing is making sure we can get things back to normal for Monday.

He said there were a variety of problems on the agenda, including ballast that had been washed away.

There will be some work going on throughout the week,the narrator said.It was not only the heavy wind and the rain on Friday evening, but it was also the high tide. "All of those things working together had a major effect on the railway.

As the seafront was battered by waves in nearby Teignmouth, part of a Victorian pier washed away. Teignmouth Pier's owners said it had been a dreadful night, although the town's mayor said it was sad sight.

It has survived many weather extremes as well as world wars,

mayor Cate Williams said. Residents in Torpoint's seaside village of full waves also suffered, according to the locals. In about 2ft (0. 01), Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said they had saved a delivery driver who had been trapped in his van. 6m) of floodwater near Liskeard.

On a two-mile (3. 76 miles (3. 2km) section of the Dawlish track.