You’re suggesting that there should have been long-term thinking?!?!?

Yes indeed the cost would be less than a new line however a cheaper and shorter option would be a new construction following the course of the old Teign Valley line Another advantage of this option is that the larger settlements in south Devon and Torbay would retain their rail link in the event of another Dawlish closure which wouldn't be the case with the Dartmoor option

The route of the former Teign Valley line is a cheaper and shorter option for a Dawlish relief line which would also ensure that the large settlements in South Devon and Torbay remain connected in the event of another closure

Beeching was mostly wrong. Take the GCR (Great Central Railway) - it should never have been closed. It would be perfect for HS2, as the tracks were built to continental specifications and standard (eg. higher than our own), and the line had large sections where it was dead straight for miles. We are still feeling the impacts of Beeching today.......and all over the UK.

@@robtyman4281 Fully agree with you. The GCR is much needed these days. What a waste to get rid of it.

I did hear somewhere that beeching didn’t acc plan to fully closes this line, som other politicians called for it

@Kyson Talon a troll most likely.

@Rhett Lachlan another troll....

A few years ago I was in a rural bit of Spain, just over the Pyrenees. Went to Barcelona from there, a distance equivalent to going to Taunton from Plymouth. Had a choice of services, including one that took 25 minutes (You’re lucky if you can do Plymouth to Taunton in 1 hour 20 mins!)

Both are needed.

At the moment it's be relaid.

That 'alternative route' would cut off huge swathes of southern Devon and Torbay as well as being too long Better to build a new line following the course of the former Teign Valley route

yes indeed. They don't work do they?

completely agree, see my comment further up re Ilfracombe.

@@simcatbobHi, I read your earlier comment - "After closure of the line(s) there SHOULD have been an act of parliament prohibiting the building of any structure on the existing permanent way. Too late now, no more line to Ilfracombe or Barnstaple to Bideford/Torrington and beyond. All that infrastructure lost when, I dare say in the future, much could be put back to good use. Mid-Devon badly needs that extra link, one I rode on in my youth whilst at school at Tavistock. Give the people what they need. Thank you for the interesting video. Brings back memories! Good Luck to All". I also watched the video showing the proposed reinstating of the North Devon line. Let us hope that common sense eventually wins the day.

It's also a lot shorter and cheaper (both in reconstruction and maintenance) than the Dartmoor route

Both are needed

Much of the line is It's called the 'Granite Way'

I hope he is in ******* but corrupt Marples should be at an even lower circle of *******!

But… isn’t there some red wall thing somewhere?

I like the straightforwardly unalloyed positivity

I think that’s highly unlikely, but time will tell.

@@srfurley If you work in the industry,as I do, you'll know. Enjoy it when it happens.

It will happen, one day

@Qwafgjolmf Pjbfszxgg You are planning on leaving mother earth soon then! Shame, you'd have loved the reborn line! 😁 Positivity is needed, not negativity!

Nor should they as it's internationally regarded as one of the worlds great rail journey's however a backup relief line is still needed with the Teign Valley option being the cheapest and most practical

Yes, in its present form.

¿Que?

A more accurate description Peter is a Client employing a contractor - and then the client keeps adding bits and pieces - while you are here can you do this and that. On HS2, the contractors price a large proportion on a 'cost plus' basis or 'target cost' basis. You must remember that quite a large proportion of civil engineering work is unkown at the outset. So, to take your house example - how would a builder know the depth of foundations at the outset? The contractor could price an assumed depth based on drawings or 750mm deep - but what happens when you come across a soft spot or mine working? Of course you pay more! On the HS2 example, the contractors are paid overheads and profit on a competitve basis - so not a 'cash cow' as some may think - especially the idiot popular press.

@@keithgale2596 I think you are attempting to defend the indefeasible, the channel rail link was built on time and within budget, the real problem is contractors tendering unrealistic bids knowing that once the government has put it's head in the noose, it has no choice but to bail the contractor out, instead of letting them go bust or simply taking the job over. Contractors have got used to ripping weak, ill informed governments off and government simply doesn't have the ability to accurately specify the job. In any other walk of life people who can't do the job are sacked, government departments promote them out of the way because employment law makes it difficult to get rid of poor quality people, hence why so many people in top local authority and government jobs are of such poor quality, I've watched it happen far too often. Good people tend to be kept in the job they are doing because they are good at it, sadly it is these people who should be promoted.

@@Timsvideochannel1 That sounds a bit of a rant and generalisation to me Tim - but before I comment further and just to check you actually have some knowledge of the facts - could you just outline the form of contract you are referring to? These define the risk profiles and payment terms of each project. Ohh - and for your additional information I was directly involved with a project when Carillion went bust - and no we didn't bail them out, nor did we overpay them. We operated the contract conditions correctly and engaged another contractor. The overall project was finished on time and to budget. Yes it took hard work to achieve that - but thankfully the local people affected by these works actually appreciated the effort. As far as I know there is no difference between public and private organisations regarding employment law and dismissals - again, please could elaborate?

@@keithgale2596 I own and run my own engineering company, its up to me to ask the right questions before I quote a job, just as it is up to my customer to give me the correct information, where grey areas exist, allowances are made. I no longer deal with government departments because the quality of their staff is so poor, most have no real world experience as they are the products of a university system that has no interest in equipping them for their future roles in industry. The best way to learn a job is to work with and learn from the best in the industry, you won't find them at university. As an engineer I look at the electrification projects that have been cut back or cancelled and wonder why the companies who tendered for these projects always seen to get it so wrong. I suspect that if they quoted the correct price the contract would be awarded to another company, I regard that as a short sighted government failing. When Auckland, New Zealand electrified its commuter railways it was done efficiently and on time by competent contractors. I see railways all over the world and never have I seen such ugly over-engineered overhead line equipment as I've seen on the Great Western lines out of Paddington, by comparison Swiss OHLE is lighter and much more pleasing to the eye and "yes" they do run an intensive train service at up to 125 mph. Were you working for Carillion or were you responsible on behalf of the government for placing the contract?

@@Timsvideochannel1 Hi Tim - I think we certainly agree that the GWML electificaion was a disaster! The original estimates, were I believe, based upon a system of vibrated piles for the masts and assumed this could be applied to most of the scheme. It was only when the Civil Engineers looked at the proposals in detail, that questions were asked like - 'what about different ground conditions' and 'how do you deal with buried services in the way of the mast bases?' Unfortunately, by that time the orders had already been placed - by, as you say inexperienced officials. My experience with Carillion was placing the contract - we undertook due diligence at the outset (financial health checks) and it was a two year contract. At that time, Carillion were 'on the up' and trading healthily according to our data. We also checked that Carillions tender was not underpriced - I think from memory that they were less than 3% lower thand the second placed tender - and aligned with our own estimates. So no 'buying' of the job there. As we now know Carillion fell due to other circumstances (overseas contracts etc). Of course, to experienced people like you and me, I could tell that something was wrong with Carillion before the collapse - and took steps to investigate payments to them - so no chance of overpayment. As you can see, I am a public servant, and take my responsibilities seriously. I have no trouble voicing my objections to my bosses when I feel public money is being wasted or a wrong decision made - but to be fair, my bosses have always supported that. (Which is why I probably bristle when I hear 'all government officials are tea drinking lazy etc' - most of my colleagues are also dedicated and often work longer hours than they are paid for). I think where governments (whatever their political bent) can go wrong is that often they reduce employees to save money and in so doing get rid of the expertise in their organisation. I have seen that with Railtrack, DfT, Highways Agency etc. But that is a political decision. As to my background, I started work at 16, for a contractor - but have had several degrees since then. Interesting debate - appreciated - and I hope gives an insight into some government decisions. Regards

I don't know why the short extension to Tavistock from Bere Alston has not been started; there's surely been enough meetings, feasibility assessments, economic benefit surveys, environmental impact analyses, prospective usage studies, station location, public transport studies, structural engineering investigations etc. but not a single foot of track has yet been laid. For those nervous about public money being spent on building actual practical things rather than just armies of civil servants surveying stuff, it may be of interest to know that two branch lines recently reopened in Scotland, to Alloa and Galashiels, both had traffic use MANY TIMES that forecast by 'rail transport experts' within a few years.

Yes, stop arguing and just f**king get on with building it. Im sure lots of local people would volunteer their time for free to help.

@@frglee Yes linking Tavistock is a no-brainer as is reconnecting Bude but if you're talking Dawlish relief the Teign Valley route is far shorter and cheaper

@Stephen Chappell I would love to see the bude line re- instated , would the viaduct at holsworthy still be ok though?

Couldn't agree more!!

And cut off South Devon and Torbay? Forget it A far cheaper and shorter option is constructing a new line over the course of the former Teign Valley route