This week I had the chance to quiz David Cameron at Prime Ministers Questions and my chosen topic was an obvious one – the future of our Dawlish line.
Network Rail has done a brilliant job repairing and restoring the line in the last 12 months. Over £50m has been spent on stabilising the cliffs, repairing the sea wall, plus replacing the damaged track and signals.
I asked the PM to confirm his ongoing commitment to the Dawlish line, and the future funding of it. The Prime Minister restated what had been spent and promised, and confirmed that the Government is working closely with the South West Rail Peninsula task force to bring together all of the strategic and transport schemes.
The next major rail report on long term options for the South West is due to report in April.