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Network Rail has awarded BAM Nuttall the contract to design a series of resilience measures along the iconic coastal railway between Dawlish and Holcombe, south Devon.
The scheme, which aims to protect the track from falling debris from the cliffs, is the next phase of works which aims to keep this vital transport artery open for the South West.
BAM Nuttall has already been involved in the scheme to shore up the coastal rail route that was washed away at Dawlish during the storms of February 2014.
Since then, work has been ongoing to create two new sections of sea wall and to protect the cliff face from Dawlish to Teignmouth from further erosion.
Huw Jones, BAM Nuttall Managing Director, Transport said: “BAM is proud to have played a vital part in the restoration and safeguarding of the vital south-western route on behalf of Network Rail and the SWRRP.
“BAM’s team in Dawlish has demonstrated incredible skill, creativity and determination to deliver a sea wall which will protect the railway and Dawlish centre for many decades to come and I’m delighted that this appointment will enable them to continue delivering further protections for the Devonshire railway.”
The South West Rail Resilience Programme (SWRRP) was established by Network Rail to identify and implement the best options to improve rail resilience between Dawlish and Teignmouth, helping to avoid a repetition of the events of 2014 when heavy storms resulted in an eight-week closure of the railway.
The resilience measures between Dawlish and Holcombe will include netting designed to retain the cliffs in some high-risk locations; and catch fences in others, which will stop any cliff material before it reaches the railway.
BAM Nuttall have begun ground investigation works and site surveys along the 1km stretch to inform the detailed design of the scheme. They are also seeking agreement for land access and consents for the work, which is expected to start in spring 2023 and last one year.
To enable the team to carry out investigations, sections of footpath at Lea Mount, Dawlish, will be closed for up to five days from Monday November 7.
This contract award to BAM Nuttall extends their involvement in the SWRRP programme. BAM Nuttall are currently in the latter stages of the construction of the £80m new sea wall at Dawlish which is progressing well with the link bridge and area around the new stilling basin anticipated to open to the public in December this year.
Funding for the scheme was announced by the Department for Transport in April 2022..
Ewen Morrison, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: “We are delighted to have awarded the contract to BAM Nuttall, who have already successfully completed the first section of the new bigger sea wall at Dawlish for us and are making great progress with the second section.
“We look forward to continuing working with them on this next phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme which will help protect the railway from storms and climate change for years to come."
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