Rail lines to stay closed 'until further notice'

Rail lines damaged in south-west England during a storm will remain closed "until further notice".

Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) said engineers had been working on lines serving Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple, Exeter St Davids to Okehampton and Liskeard to Looe after Storm Chandra damaged tracks.

They said visible damage had been repaired, but specialist dive teams who needed to check submerged structures were unable to go out as water was still too high and flowing too fast for safe inspections.

Network Rail and GWR added bus or coach replacement services had been set up and apologised for any inconvenience caused. Further updates would be available on GWR's website, they added.

Daryn McCombe, director of performance and train service delivery for GWR and director of network operations at Network Rail's Western route, said engineers had been "working tirelessly" to keep passengers travelling safely when possible.

"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 said.

"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."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].