Rail Service Cancellations Impact Devon and Cornwall

Rail passengers are experiencing service cancellations affecting routes into and out of Devon and Cornwall. This disruption is a result of flooding and trees that have fallen onto the tracks, caused by Storm Bert. Great Western Railway (GWR) announced the cancellation of train services operating between London Paddington and Penzance, which pass through Exeter St Davids and Plymouth. Additionally, services connecting Exeter to Okehampton and Barnstaple have been cancelled. GWR stated on X that these rail travel disruptions are expected to persist until at least the conclusion of Monday. South Western Railway reported that certain services were operational between Exeter and Waterloo, and passengers were advised to verify their travel plans prior to departure. The A381 road, linking Totnes and Newton Abbot, is closed between Ipplepen and Two Mile Oak due to flooding. Furthermore, over 280 residences in both counties are currently without electricity. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers responded to 93 reports of road traffic collisions during the weekend; however, not all these incidents were attributed to the weather conditions. Residents of Clovelly were observed removing floodwater from their homes throughout the weekend. Flooding affected Chudleigh and Exeter, and an indoor skate park located in Newton Abbot also sustained damage. A spokesperson for the skate park stated, “We’re facing the fiercest deluge since our charity kicked off a decade ago.” The Bovey Tracey football ground and park experienced flooding. The Environment Agency has also issued 13 flood warnings for rivers in Devon, indicating that flooding is anticipated in those specific areas. The forecast for Monday indicates continued windy conditions, though less severe than over the weekend, accompanied by periods of sunshine and showers. The outdoor seating area of Falmouth’s Castle Beach Cafe was destroyed by stormy seas for the second occasion this year. Owner Emily Davidson commented: “Every year we lose something like a picnic bench, but this year we’ve had two storms which have completely destroyed it”We had rebuilt it and it has been destroyed again.” BBC Cornwall can be followed on X, Facebook, and Instagram, as can BBC Devon. Story ideas may be sent to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.