For two weeks in November, there will be no train services on the West of England line between Axminster and Exeter while Network Rail engineers install one mile of new track through Honiton Tunnel.
The work will take place from Saturday, 9th to Friday, 22nd November inclusive, and during that time a rail-replacement bus service will operate between Axminster and Exeter St Davids.
While the line is closed, engineers will replace the existing 50-year-old track through the tunnel and install new sleepers and ballast.
The new track has a protective coating to resist corrosion and prolong its life.
Improvements will also be made to the track drainage, which channels water away from the tunnel to reduce the likelihood of disruption because of flooding.
Network Rail will also take advantage of the closure to carry out other work on the line, including:
- Maintenance work at Feniton level crossing and Fenny Bridges foot crossing.
- Clearing diseased and dangerous trees between Honiton and Pinhoe.
- Replacing half a mile of track between Pinhoe and Feniton.
In 2022, the line was closed for five days while Network Rail carried out landslip prevention work at the entrance to Honiton Tunnel, and last year the line between Axminster and Salisbury was closed for 21 days for further upgrade work.
“There is never a convenient time to close the railway for an extended duration so we re sorry to any passengers disrupted by this closure and thank them in advance for their patience and understanding.
Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director
Responses
Maybe my memory is failing me, but I don’t recall in years gone by the number of railway route closures that we now have. Every week it seems there is an announcement of another railway closure, often for an extended period of seveal weeks or even months.
I wonder if this is because of increased maintenance work by Network Rail (which clearly is good) or whether more strenuous health & safety requirments now require line closure, whereas before the work would have been carried out with the line open and lookouts allerting the maintence workers to an oncoming train?