RAIL leaders in Teignbridge have a welcomed the announcement by the Transport Secretary that the Government is looking at reopening rail routes to ease overcrowding.

But they have urged the minister to act on what is needed now by ensuring the main line through Dawlish and Teignmouth is secure.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he wants to identify which routes would boost the economy, encourage house-building and ease overcrowding.

Restoring lost capacity, cut as part of the infamous Beeching cuts, is one of a number of reforms featured in the Government’s new rail strategy.

Public consultation has also been launched on splitting up the Great Western Railway franchise, proposing one to focus on regional service and another on long-distance routes.

But Cllr Ros Prowse, who chairs the Railway Review Group at Teignbridge Council and represents the district on Devon County Council’s railway working party, wants to ensure money is spent on current problems now.

She said: ‘It’s wonderful they are considering opening old lines and I welcome anything that highlights the need for railways in the South West to be upgraded.

‘But the concern for us in Teignbridge is if that money goes into reopening lines, will there be funds to protect the main line between Exeter and Newton Abbot?

‘It is vital for Teignbridge and the whole of the South West that the main lin stays open.

‘It all comes down to money.’

Some 4,000 miles of rail routes were closed in the 1960s, mainly in rural areas, known as the Beeching cuts.

The new proposals, contained in the government’s strategic vision for rail, also include commitments to expand the railway network to boost housing and economic growth, and deliver major passenger benefits.

One of the lines mentioned in the report which is being considered for reopening is the Exeter to Okehampton line.

This closed to passengers in 1972 but was restored in 1997 and now runs seasonal services in the summer.

Proposals will need to demonstrate a strong business case where they are seeking Government funding.

A campaign has also been launched to reopen the Newton Abbot to Heathfield Teign Valley line.

The 15-mile stretch has not carried passengers since 1959 and now is only occasionally used by freight trains.

A 3,000 signature petition is backing calls to reopen the line to ease transport pressures as a commuter line and boost tourism.

However, Cllr Prowse highlighted more immediate issues which needed funding.

Surveys into the unstable cliffs between Dawlish and Teignmouth have estimated stabilisation work could cost £34 million.

Efforts to establish a metro line between Newton Abbot and Marsh Barton, which should have opened in December, have hit the buffers.

Plans for a new station at Marsh Barton have proved more costly than expected and there is a £10 million shortfall.

Improvements are also required at Dawlish Warren station to cope with extra housing being built in Dawlish.

And there are ongoing calls for a station at Exminster to ease traffic congestion.

Cllr Prowse added: ‘We need to know the main line is safe.’

The Government is also proposing to devolve running the track and train services to local companies.

Mr Grayling described Network Rail as ‘one big central blob’, saying the network could be better run locally.

‘It means when things go wrong, there’s one team to sort it out.’

At the moment Network Rail, which is state-owned, looks after the track and other infrastructure while train services are operated by private companies.

The Government will also consult on splitting up the Great Western franchise between London, the South West and Wales.

That could result in one company running long-distance lines between London, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall while another runs local services across the South West.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: ‘We are investing in the biggest modernisation of the railways for more than a century. 

‘Working with GWR, we are bringing the very latest in rail technology to some of the world’s oldest lines, putting passengers first so that they benefit from a transformational programme of upgrades as quickly as possible.

‘The benefits of these improvements will be felt right across the franchise area. 

‘But as the franchise continues to grow into the 2020s, we want to ensure every line, station and passenger remains central to the train operator’s strategy. 

‘This consultation asks passengers how they want their railway to look into the 2020s and beyond and how it will best deliver for them.’