Rail passengers across the South West of England are bracing for a prolonged period of significant travel disruption, with three key branch lines remaining closed indefinitely. The extensive damage caused by severe flooding from back-to-back storms last week continues to cripple services in Devon and Cornwall, with safety concerns now preventing crucial underwater inspections.
Lines Closed for Safety Assessments
Network Rail has confirmed that the following branch lines will stay closed until further notice to allow comprehensive safety checks: the route from Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple, the line from Exeter St Davids to Okehampton, and the connection between Liskeard and Looe. The closures are a direct consequence of Storm Chandra, which brought torrential rainfall and caused severe flooding across the region.
Extensive Track Damage Discovered
Engineering teams have been assessing the scale of the devastation. Initial inspections revealed multiple locations where the essential track ballast—the foundational layer of stones supporting the rails—was completely washed away by the sheer force of floodwaters, particularly on the Barnstaple and Okehampton lines. While visible damage to the tracks has been repaired this week, a far more complex challenge now lies beneath the surface.
Specialist dive teams are urgently needed to examine submerged critical infrastructure, including bridges and viaducts along the affected routes. These inspections are vital to ensure the structural integrity of these assets has not been compromised by the powerful flood currents. However, the latest evaluation presents a major obstacle: the water levels remain dangerously high, and the flow is still too rapid for divers to enter safely.
Limited Replacement Services in Operation
With rail services suspended, limited alternative transport has been arranged. A rail replacement bus service is currently running between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton, stopping only at those two stations. Another replacement bus service is operating on the Liskeard to Looe route. For the Exeter to Barnstaple line, passengers face a more restricted service, with only a limited hourly return coach available.
It is worth noting that in the immediate aftermath of the floods, even these replacement road services were hampered, as poor road conditions initially prevented buses from running.
Network Rail Apologises for Ongoing Disruption
Daryn McCombe, Director of Network Operations for Network Rail's Western route, expressed sincere regret for the continued inconvenience faced by passengers. "Great Western Railway and Network Rail teams have been working tirelessly to safely keep customers moving wherever possible," McCombe stated. "We've been able to fix the problems we can see, but it's really important to make sure that underwater structures remain sound, and it's not safe for divers to enter the water yet."
He further explained the ongoing monitoring efforts: "We're working with our weather forecasting teams and monitoring the river levels so that the divers can enter the water as soon as conditions allow." Passengers are strongly advised to check the official Great Western Railway website for the very latest travel updates and service information.
The situation underscores the severe and lasting impact of extreme weather on critical transport infrastructure, leaving communities in Devon and Cornwall to cope with significantly reduced connectivity for the foreseeable future.
