REBORN or RUINED? 🌊🧱 Dawlish Sea Wall before and after changes

[@philippaboast8866]

New wall and ongoing enhancements look fabulous. Yes previous appearance was also great but sadly the improvement work and modernisation became necessary after the 2014 storm.

[@WolfmanWoody]

The view from the train is something I do still remember from 1951 when I was but 5 years old. It filled me with anticipation as to what was ahead at Paignton. That and catching mackerel from a fishing boat are still fixed in my memory. What has been done had to be done, no point looking back and regretting, it should have been done years ago. The only thing I'd still like to see is the old railway bridges being given a lick of paint.

[@andrewlogan1555]

I have been able to walk along the furthest section out towards the Warren and watched progress each time I use the train. When the job is finished around the station (awaiting the new bridge) it will be a wonderful walk with plenty of places to sit. I am sure it will be a great place to stroll and an attraction for visitors

[@glynluff2595]

Several items come to mind. The security of the transport link. The security of the properties and homes behind it . The likelihood of further dramatic weather impact. The impressive engineering achievement that this represents. Finally the old view showed how under invested for many years this area had been. You cannot pickle time and too many people think you can. What is spoilt only rose coloured memory on a warm and friendly day. Treasure them and remember all the others factors such as people now gone and the years now gathered.

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Although those spikey things look stupid (I hate them), I totally love the rest of it. Yes, we would have loved it to stay it the way it was, but it was no longer financially viable. They couldn't keep repairing the damn thing every year. It was either rebuild it as they have, or re-route it inland which would have been immensely sad. Be thankful we got this and not a reroute.

[@davidbailey533]

I think it's a major improvement and granted u can't sit on wall like before but at same time it's further protection for many more years and worth it

[@Markus117d]

I think having the rail line broken and people's homes falling into the sea, Would spoil things a lot more than these neccsary works...

[@davidorf3921]

Lets face facts, something had to be done, so if we accept that work needed to be done then you have to look at what has been done so far and will be done by the time they finish. The new sea wall may not be as pretty as the old one, but it should last a long time, it protects the railway line and gives a more protected level walk with ramp access for those that wish to promenade. The higher top edge breaks incoming waves diverting much of the energy back towards the sea. Modern health and safety restrictions mean that certain structures have had to be added. It was never going to be replaced with cut granite blocks, it would have taken ten times the amount of time with a comensurate increase in cost. I think given the budgetry and time requirements they have actually done a pretty good job.

[@gainsbourg66]

No. It could and should have been done far more tastefully. About as much thought went into aesthetics as you would expect for a sewage farm. The Victorians on the other hand always put as much effort into design as they did engineering. Dawlish has suffered at the hands of harsh, concrete minimalism - just like the ghastly multi- million pound rebuilding of London Bridge Station did. Tourism will be badly affected, as most of the visitors the sea front and town attracted enjoyed watching the trains - though this was probably never considered. Now you can see far less of the trains. There's just a sea of concrete slabs and black metal fencing.

[@andybyrne50]

The wall isn’t meant to win a beauty contest, it’s to keep the town safe from rising sea levels and the railway operational. To take the railway away would be a disaster for those who live along the route, as the roads between Dawlish/ starcross and Bitton park Teignmouth are bottlenecked in the summer months. I’d rather see an ugly wall , than have constant traffic problems and more pollution problems because of the congestion. At least the line is safe and so is the Town and it’s economy. Amen to that !

[@bobwood856]

I used to love Dawlish as it was. I now love Dawlish as it is! Had to be done. And by the way, rising sea levels were not a consideration when Brunel was building the original. Can't blame him, that's our problem, not his.

[@breeze1472]

it may of looked great when the sun shone but look at the damage the sea storms did,i agree its an improvement which will last years

[@fletch61]

You now have a wider path to walk on.. it will accessible to wheelchairs when it's finished.. it's only the bit from the tunnel to the end of the station that has been improved .. the rest of the sea wall is as it always looked

[@barryroberts2196]

If the re build of the sea wall was the same as the old one, 2014 would, sooner or later, happen again. It's called progress. Things have to change for the better, like it or not !

[@tonybell3422]

Enhanced as best it could be given the circumstances. Great shots.

[@larnswickuk1160]

It is fantastic, and a credit to all involved in its construction in sometimes challenging conditions, the improved accessibility for all is a great bonus. The area by the station will still get a battering at times, but nature is so powerful, but the risk can only be minimised not excluded completely I think.

[@stuartandrews4344]

Old wall was end of life & the 2014 storm washed away & destroyed a section of the sea wall, so blame Brunel for the railway line location, new wall was essential, it's not to everyone's liking, we just have to accept it's appearance.

[@benhalloren7599]

Brunel was blocked from his preferred route, alas, due to nimbyism from the local aristocracy.

[@Crepello100]

Under the circumstances I think they've done a great job. As to how long it'll last - the sea's still rising! It's about a foot higher now than when Brunel built it and that rate of rise is increasing a lot. What I do regret is the old trains, steam and diesel-hauled looked and sounded far better to me but maybe that's just me getting old and reminising? And I miss the old parcels and freight trains.There were 50 a day each way and used to keep this railway busy all night long too, as late as 1973. I do think they'll still need to reopen the old LSWR Exeter-Plymouth via Okehampton line, or build a new and much faster way from Exeter to the west. Keep this old route too for Paignton but also reduce journey time to Plymoth/Penzance by half an hour. They'd do that if this was Switzerland or Austra but it's the UK so no chance of that here I guess.

[@philtucker1224]

Incredible to think how powerful the forces of nature are, and who in their right mind decided to route the railway right across the beach front in the first place! (I guess the only other option would have been to run the line further back through the main town, and let the sea continue to eat it’s way into Dawlish town)..

[@susanchadwick7240]

It's a huge improvement. You can't live in the past, and if you want a functioning railway you have to accept some changes. Great to have improved accessibility too.

[@sarahandwills]

Just down there at the moment and I think certain bits of it are an improvement now it's fully opened.

[@davidsheriff8989]

Without it Teignmouth will flood very soon....necessary.

[@stevechard3860]

What the craps it gotta do with Teignmouth then 🤔🤔

[@fletch61]

It's DAWLISH not Teignmouth

[@philtucker1224]

I would also have loved Dawlish to be returned to the way it looked 60 years ago when I was just a fun filled little child and my dear parents were still young and healthy smiling people! But sadly…..🤔

[@annar6430]

Looks like main Dawlish Beach can only really used at low tide?

[@andrewreynolds4949]

The station will be much drier behind the new wall. The spikes were added I think to keep people off the tracks, which had become a problem

[@gainsbourg66]

Unnecessary, ugly fencing now everywhere. Don't they realise the type of person who chooses to visit Dawlish (over other places they could easly go) actually enjoys looking at the trains? Why else would so many tourists choose to walk along a promenade with trains passing by so close?

[@keefr22]

If IKB were around today I'd bet he'd engineer it much the same! 😊 And there's so little of interest running now does it really matter if the view is spoilt?! 😄

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Yes, it does. For some people the view was the whole damn point!!

[@terrywallis693]

trains have got significantly faster....protection is necessary in respect to public and infrastructure - without the protection there be no railway

[@philtucker1224]

So much nicer now and much stronger and safer for everyone to enjoy!

[@billeaton1970]

The necessity for this work has been caused by the deterioration with age of the original sea wall and has absolutely nothing to do with "rising sea levels".

[@grahamallison2990]

Interesting and well put together. Overall things have been spoilt in my opinion, but these days they have to ensure they allow for those lacking common sense. So we get fences and can no longer sit on the wall. At least a walk to the Warren seems still a pleasant experience and views to match.

[@sarahandwills]

I'd agree with that. The bit between Lifeguards and the Warren is relatively unspoilt. Like you say, all this fencing and those ugly spikes bow to the lowest common denominator, but I guess there's always a blame game if someone does something daft

[@andrewlogan1555]

Over the years - how many people (including children) have been injured and indeed died falling off the edge of the old wall. More than a few

[@outbound2672]

I mean personally I think it’s actual fit for purpose now, with the old wall the railway and town wouldn’t have lasted much longer. The fences and spikes are for suicide prevention nothing more nothing less.

[@andrewlogan1555]

@@outbound2672 I will check with one of our councillors to find out if you are correct

[@andrewlogan1555]

I travelled on a train today (to Newton Abbot) The fences you refer to are of a horizontal nature and if anything would make a suicidal easier as someone could easily clamber over them. The metal railing by the station may prevent anyone climbing over them to get on the platform, but you are not prevented from getting on the platform as you only have to enter the station and go across the bridge like everyone else. My understanding is that the walkway has been made safer and more comfortable for all the future visitors I simply do not recognise the point you have made

[@davidbuckingham9289]

View spoilt but much more practical. That said it was a bl**dy silly place to build a railway!

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Would you want to try building a railway over the Holden Hills. This route was more sensible and way prettier.

[@stephendavies6506]

I thought the old wall was fine. The bit where it dropped to sea level was a pain at times but we were used to it. Maybe in time we'll get used to the new berlin wall. Its not attractive in any way and isnt in keeping with the area. During recent storms the sea still battered the railway.

[@sgthree]

It wasn't 'battered'. It was just spray blowing in the wind. The wall was designed to take the power out of the waves, which is exactly what it did to protect the railway. Get your facts right!!

[@WalterHopevalleyrailwayenthusi]

Brilliant video

[@simpson1066]

It looks a mess now, and that concrete will look pretty grim very quickly. All seems very expensive, and has taken a ridiculously long time. It makes no difference to the potential flooding of the town because the channel where the river flows into the sea is obviously at the same level as it's always been.

[@fletch61]

Have you been and looked ?

[@gainsbourg66]

Agreed. I am surprised how much support there is for this badly thought out, modernist, concrete monstrosity. Anything new on a big scale tends to elicit childlike excitment but it will soon fade away once they realise that what made Dawlish attractive to so many has largely gone.

[@GaryBishop-p3z]

Wont the fact the wall is a lot further out means the waves will hit it harder, resulting in bigger spray?? Just a thought! Better wheel chair access is good though

[@PhillTicehurst]

you would have been really gutted if the rerouted the line inland = dawlish dead so just learn to like the new wall

[@sarahandwills]

Fair point. I agree it's a necessary evil, to some extent. The wall is much better when you're actually walking along it rather than if you view it from a distance.

[@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494]

what a dreadful looking place ,, typical of our modern idiotic society you have a natural area of beauty with an historical railway that people come from around the world to visit you make it into stalag luft 17 even though it has an exemplary safety record

[@stevechard3860]

No longer Britain's most scenic railway journey 😢😢, all that concrete is an eyesore, just saying 😞😞

[@stevechard3860]

Why was it a silly place, how many years has it provided the most scenic railway journey in Britain😁😁, now just a concrete jungle with no character 😞😞

[@alextrainspotterhd6444]

@@stevechard3860 unfortunately it had to be done to protect the railway I can see where you coming from tho but we all know dawlish is famous for its stormy seas

[@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494]

it is the classic brutish mentality today kill the goose that lays the golden egg , then wonder why no one visits anymore dawlishs only real selling point has been vandalised lets be honest about this , the only reason i'd visit dawlish is for the trains because being brutal it doesn't offer very much as a resort by itself

[@stevewaldock4379]

I guess it was necessary to do all this. Unfortunately these days progress and change inevitably means uglyness and loss of character...

[@brianjones2860]

Dawlish warren ruined without a doubt much better 1970s and 80s

[@rowdyperson6393]

What have they done? Ruined forever. Out of all the plans they could have made possible they have turned the sea front into an ugly one at that. Mismatched stone world with stone and concrete together instead of making sure all was unified as well as destroying the station wall by putting the path right up to the side instead of allowing a gap between. I just do not know what else to say other that monstrous

[@roboftherock]

Well, that is your opinion and you are entitled to that. I tend to consider that the railway is NOT there for the looks. It is to transport people and goods.

[@bluebellsalmon]

Yes, would have made more sense to rebuild the line via Oakhampton and close this one! Once they'd decided not to do that, if you're going to spend the money on protecting the existing line instead, something had to be done that would last another 150 years. I happen to think it looks as good as (or probably better than) it was ever going to.

[@andrewganley9016]

Ruined? absolutely! as most other Not Work Fails 'improvements' a classic railway location spoilt ranks along side putting wires up on the Lickey Incline

[@squeaksvids5886]

Think you’ll find NR are only interested in protecting the railway from the sea. Wether or not it ruins your photos isn’t their priority. This had to be done and I think the travelling public will be happy to have a more resilient railway.

[@sarahandwills]

Absolutely. I made that very point in my description. First and foremost, the town and railway must be protected. This was always meant to be a look at the secondary issue - the visual impact of the works.

[@gainsbourg66]

Or the recent rebuilding of London Bridge Station.

[@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494]

water is natures unstoppable force if it is going to happen it'll happen no matter what man does to try to stop it @@squeaksvids5886

[@molinux07]

I don't believe this post,after millions of pounds spent on a project to help keep the people and town safe you moan about views. Seriously you should get out more and see what a great piece British engineering has been done

[@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494]

never forget that people come to see those views and pay thier bills , without the views of the trains it is just another faceless insignificant seaside area

[@gainsbourg66]

Ugly design full of unecessary features such as the new high level walkway over the river section that obscures the steel bridge.The new black metal fencing along the whole route is hideous and obscures the view of the railway. The interconnected concrete slabs look like a building site when compared to the old stone blocks and will age badly. The biggest joke of all is that it looks hardly any more capable of preventing sea damage than the old wall. The Victorians had far more inginuity, flair and artistic input into their engineering designs. The new wall is a relection of newer, uglier designs accross the whole rail network. The new London Bridge Station, or Manchester Victoria come to mind. Dawlish will soon notice that far less tourists and day trippers visit the area. The whole town will suffer.