FREAK waves put the brakes on two knocked-out trains between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren today.

One local service ended up with smashed windows from the force of the storm-tossed sea, while a Paddington-bound express train came a cropper after leaving Dawlish Station.

The double-whammy dramas happened within minutes of each other late this morning.

Both accidents threw the rest of the busy line into chaos, as delayed trains behind the stranded pair came to a grinding halt.

The 1052 from Paignton to London Paddington received its blow on the famously vulnerable stretch just before midday.

Rail chiefs launched a rescue mission for the Great Western Railway service by sending another train from Exeter to tow it to safety.

And the 1057 Exmouth to Paignton train also went on its way shortly afterwards, without the damaged carriage.

One observer of the scene said: ‘It’s just one of those things. Enough trains have gone through this morning without being hit. It’s unfortunate that these two were.

‘Smashed windows, though – they are out of the ordinary.’

A spokesman for Great Western Railway said this afternoon: ’The 1057 from Exmouth to Paignton has been damaged by sea debris. The train has now moved forward and the damaged carriage taken out of service. ’

He added: ’The 1052 Paignton to Paddington service has a train fault between Teignmouth and Dawlish. The fault which has developed on this train has yet to be investigated.’