David Smith, of 7 Herschell Road, Exeter, writes:

After a break of two months and a Herculean effort by Network Rail and their Orange Army, Dawlish station reopened, as predicted, on Friday.

As the first early morning trains cautiously trundled over the reinstated track on the approach to the station, they passed the line of huge rock-filled containers that had played such an important role in protecting repair work from subsequent storms.

The containers remaining solidly in place means that the walkway which runs parallel to the line from Dawlish to Langstone Rock remains cordoned off at the breakwater just beyond the old lifeboat house making access to the beach from that point difficult.

Although the sea wall has been made more robust than ever before, large sections of the wall and parapet remain devoid of the usual stone facing blocks, washed away by the storms.

It is quite evident that the wall failed so catastrophically where it did because the parallel and supporting walkway was constructed much lower than at other parts of the sea wall. It is said that this was due to an agreement when the line was built to prevent passersby from overlooking property on the other side of the track.

Even with the containers still in place there is still a long section of low level walkway on either side where the sea wall appears to remain vulnerable. Ideally the low level walkway will be raised to plug the gap, the parapet reinforced over its entire length and raised by half a metre to combat storm surges and rising sea levels.

Network Rail and their staff have done exceptionally well to get the line open but there is still much to be done in order for Brunel's scenic creation to meet modern needs, extreme weather and rising sea levels and importantly to protect the future of Dawlish.MORE LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION