TEIGNBRIDGE MP Richard Younger-Ross has criticised claims that the celebrated coastal railway line at Teignmouth and Dawlish is unsustainable, writes Hannah Taylor. The route, constructed by Brunel 160 years ago, is considered one of the most picturesque in the country but has suffered some winter closures because of high seas. Totnes MP, Anthony Steen, last week claimed that the line will become unsustainable in the future and alternatives should be sought now. But Mr Younger-Ross said that the claim was 'cheap scare-mongering'. Mr Steen said that 'the Met Office had no doubt that the line was unsustainable in the next 50-100 years and that alternative plans should be considered now'. It is a claim refuted by Mr Younger-Ross: ' We are all aware that the sea levels are rising and that there are significant changes to the climate, but Mr Steen's claim that the rail link is unsustainable is not proven. 'I have spoken to both the Met Office and Network Rail. A spokesman for the Met Office told me 'the Met Office would not say what to do with the railway line'. 'Network Rail has told me that they are about to undertake a 12 month study of the impact of climate change on the rail network using Dawlish as a case study and did not know yet whether the line was sustainable or required intermediate work. 'Network Rail have just spent £9 million on works to the rock face and sea wall to protect the track from storms. 'I believe that we should look at how to keep this picturesque line open, and the rail link to Dawlish and Teignmouth, before we start campaigning to construct an extremely expensive tunnel from Exeter through Haldon Hill to Newton Abbot,' he said. The coastal railway from Exeter to Teignmouth is included in this year's 200th anniversary Brunel celebrations. It was constructed by the master engineer in 1846 and formed part of his legendary experiment with the atmospheric railway.
