Rail lines to remain closed after storm damage
Network RailRail passengers have been warned they face disruption following heavy flooding across south west England.
Network Rail and Great Western Railway said with the flooding from Storm Chandra and another yellow weather warning for heavy rain in place from Friday until Saturday, disruption is expected in Devon and Cornwall.
They said lines serving Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple, Exeter St Davids to Okehampton, Liskeard to Looe and Par to Newquay would be closed over the weekend and into next week.
Simon Gillibrand, Network Rail's western route operations director, apologised for the disruption and said teams are working around the clock to repair the storm damage so lines can reopen.
Network Rail said engineers inspected the Barnstaple and Okehampton lines and found multiple areas where the ballast have been washed away with underwater inspections of bridges and viaducts needed before services resume.
GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said he hoped to get "services up and running as quickly as possible".
"The storms have however caused some damage to the railway infrastructure and some of which, such as these vital branch lines, continue to be under water," he added.
"We need the water levels to subside before our friends at Network Rail can check the tracks and make any repairs as necessary."
Network Rail said bus replacement services would operate between Par and Newquay and Liskeard and Looe.
But it said poor road conditions meant bus replacement services would not be provided on the route between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple/Okehampton, with passengers advised not to travel.
