PLANS to protect another stretch of at-risk railway line from the elements were unveiled by Network Rail this week.

According to engineers, the vulnerable section between Parson’s Tunnel and Teignmouth is most at risk from crumbling cliffs on one side, rather than the sea on the other.

So the proposals include moving the railway away from the sections of cliff which ‘pose the greatest hazard’.

The design would require some land reclamation to allow a buttress – a sloping rock structure to stabilise the cliffs and protect the railway – to be built.

To protect the realigned railway from the sea, a rock revetment or enhanced sea wall will be required to absorb the energy of the waves and allow for the railway to be relocated away from the cliffs.

The proposals also include enhanced leisure access, cycling and walking routes and new amenity areas so that users of Holcombe beach ‘continue to enjoy the space and views of the Devon coastline’.

Although no exact figure has been mentioned yet, and probably won’t be until the autumn, the project is likely to cost more than double the £80 million being spent on Marine Parade.

It is said that this plan has ‘minimal impact’ on the running of the line as it can be built offline. Network Rail engineers reckon it ‘doesn’t make economic sense’ to close the rail for months to build a new tunnel. Completion would be expected around 2026-27.

Plans for the stretch from Dawlish railway station to Red Rock, which was washed away back in 2014, are yet to break cover. All three local rail projects are set to run simultaneously.

Mark Langman, route managing director for Network Rail’s western route, said: ‘These proposals will protect the railway for generations to come, but we listened to public feedback to the original concepts in 2016 and have worked hard to minimise the impact on Holcombe beach and incorporate new and improved amenities such as cycling and footpaths.

‘The railway is a vital artery to the South West, which communities, businesses and visitors to the region depend on for connecting with the rest of the UK so we really want to hear views on our updated proposals to allow us to refine them further before we apply for consent to undertake the work.’

Ten weeks of public consultations started in Newton Abbot on Monday, and Dean Shaw, Network Rail’s media relations manager, reckoned that initial interactions had been encouraging.

‘I think people have been pleasantly surprised because they expected us to lose a lot more beach,’ he said.

‘I’ve had a few positive comments about the walkway and the cycle path that will be available, but some have said they want it to look a little more sympathetic to the area.

‘That’s what we want, we want people to tell us that because it’s a cosmetic change. It’s the look of it rather than the engineering side.’

Original plans showed that almost all the beach, up to 90 per cent, would’ve been lost. But the new proposals allow lots of space for beach, with less than half set to be taken over.

Mr Shaw added: ‘We had a question that asked if you were carrying a kayak, could you still get under the bridge at Parson’s Tunnel, and you could. But I know some rumours started that you wouldn’t be able to get under there.’

Residents and interested parties are invited to provide feedback on the proposals to help finalise the designs. The detailed proposals are available online at www.networkrail.co.uk/SouthWestRRP.

It is possible to respond to the consultation online, by email or in writing via a freepost feedback form.

Following the round of drop-in sessions, Network Rail say they will analyse all responses and ‘incorporate the feedback into updated plans’.

These updated proposals will be made public through a second round of consultations scheduled for the autumn.