FOLLOWING the re-opening of the main railway line through Dawlish last week, members of the Tavistock Chamber of Commerce were this week told that now was the perfect time to promote the argument for alternative rail routes into the South West.

At a meeting of the chamber on Monday, Richard Searight, chamber member and member of the Peninsula Rail Group (PRG), handed out a two-page summary sheet including the facts about the Northern and Southern Dartmoor rail route alternatives to the main line. He said the aim of the summary sheet was to help ensure that the Dawlish line rail debate was conducted based on authoritative facts.

Mr Searight said: 'We started the Peninsula Rail Group, made up of rail professionals, academics, rail enthusiasts, councillors and stakeholders, to establish facts on both the routes. Gradually the argument has shifted — they don't mention Dawlish as the only line now but are talking about having dual lines.'

The summary sheet gives pros and cons for a South Dartmoor route — one rail route solution excluding Dawlish Warren, and pros and cons for re-instating the North Dartmoor route — a two rail route solution, including Dawlish Warren, of which there are more pros than the South line.

Mr Searight urged the chamber to push for the Northern route, which would include reinstating the route between Tavistock and Okehampton.

He said the benefits of the North Dartmoor route included providing a weather resilient service plus extra mainline passenger capacity, reducing estimated journey times. It would be the cheapest option, would be quicker to reinstate, would ease road congestion at rush hour times and would provide business and tourism benefits to areas needing economic support.

The only disadvantage on the summary sheet for this line is it could have up to four minutes longer travel times depending on the level of track optimisation and rolling stock adopted.

'One fact that we wanted to make clear was that people think the dual track route would be slower than the Dawlish route,' said Mr Searight.

'It wouldn't be. A proper train going down the dual route would be quicker than the Dawlish way.'

Mike Harper asked whether an alternative route was still actively being looked at, now that £35-million has been spent fixing the main route.

Mr Searight said: 'There is no other option. To have two lines is better than having one.

'Now is the perfect time for it, the argument isn't going to go quiet for at least the next 12 months. They will have to have an alternative route — I don't think the line through Dawlish will wash away again now, but it definitely won't work under water.

'It is crucial to think about the future to do more than just fixing the line.'

The fact that the extreme weather would not be a once in a lifetime event was highlighted by Amanda Shaw, who said that it was more than likely with all the flood plains that a similar situation would happen again.

Neil Taynton-Young said that people were saying that the bus service that ran while the main line was being fixed was actually faster than the rail service, which further highlighted the issues for the service to be improved.

Martin Legg said: 'To me this is a massive thing. If we had a line through Tavistock it would be life-changing.'

Chairman Nigel Eadie agreed: 'If that was to happen, it would be absolutely transformational for this area. We should do anything we can for the Peninsula Rail Group to make it happen.'

Mr Searight said the summary sheet should be made available to as many people as possible, including MPs and councillors, to help spread the facts.

To view the summary sheet visit http://www.prg.2day.ws">www.prg.2day.ws or for more information email [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01822 860148.