MP Anne Marie Morris has met rail minister Huw Merriman to press the case for unlocking urgent funding needed to complete the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

The Newton Abbot MP had raised the issue of confirming the cash would be available for the final phase of the scheme to protect the vulnerable coastal route in Parliament.

Now she has been able to put her views direct to the minister.

Following the meeting, Ms Morris said: ‘I was pleased to meet the Rail Minister recently to discuss the Southwest Rail Resilience Project.

‘The line is the only route to the rest of the Southwest and so it is vital that all five phases of work are complete.

‘Good progress has been made on the first two stages, but the line is only as strong as its weakest link.

‘We must complete those final phases, and I will be on the case repeatedly until they have been delivered.’

The meeting followed Ms Morris posing questions in parliament about further funding to progress the long term project.

Ms Morris explained: ‘While the first three phases have been largely completed, making the Dawlish seafront and station secure, the work either side of Parsons Tunnel is not.

‘The last two phases address the weakness of the rock faces along the line which regularly discards stones and rocks. This has been the most usual reason for line closures. The line is only as resilient as its weakest link. These two cliffs need fixing.

‘While the rock face between Holcombe and Parsons Tunnel has nearly been fixed, there is one remaining piece of work for which the line must be temporarily closed.

‘The only window that has been found next March falls at a time of so many other re-routings there are not enough buses to cope. If the work isn’t complete, then the funding for that part is lost. I asked the Rail Minister to look favourably on rolling the money into the next spending period if the buses cannot be found.

‘He was sympathetic and said he would look at such an approach with Treasury colleagues.’

Ms Morris said the more worrying and most complex piece of work on the Teignmouth cliffs themselves.

She said: ‘They are not very stable, and many parts have a red risk rating. 

‘While the project to move the railway line at some £950m was abandoned due to its unpopularity and eye-watering expense, the new plan to nail, net and drain does not yet have an agreed cost. 

‘I pressed the minister to ensure work continues and that funding is granted for work on this phase in the next funding period which starts in 2024. I made it very plain this is the only line serving the peninsula and this work must continue.

‘While some money for scoping has been forthcoming, we need funding for the first design phase.

‘I await his response.’