What Planet is Richard Madeley On?

I have to say I think many railway lines fitted themselves into the natural scene rather attractively... especially in steam-hauled days, when a plume of white vapour* was being wafted skyward...

(*not steam - that is transparent!)

When the smuts went in your eye if you looked out of the window!

I think it's splitting hairs to concentrate on the term he used, natural feature.

I like him and when the obnoxious Mathew Wright was splendidly showing off his body like a prat in a white bikini in the jungle, Richard Madeley covered for him. What a breath of fresh air he was, I actually managed to watch without shouting at the tele or changing channels.

He is correct,the coastal railway line, albeit not a natural feature, is lovely! It is always a pleasure for kids to wave at the trains at Dawlish from the beach and it would be a shame for it to be moved. I do however think the rail line is so frequently damaged and quite possibly this is the worst, it might be time to think outside the box and move it in land.

It will be a sad loss for Devon and it's tourist trade however.

I am reminded of the late Michael Flanders: "If God had meant us to fly, he would never have given us the railways".

It is indeed a wonderful train journey. When I lived in south Devon, and travelled to Manchester by train, it was the best bit of the journey.
It will be good if it can be restored, but the weather in recent years suggests it may just be too close to the sea.
I wish they'd spend the money planned for the fast rail link on improving our existing rail links.

I heard that the seawall was backfilled with sand, so perhaps if they concrete it, as suggested, the line could be saved. However the road behind seems to have gone too.

Couldn't watch the video grannyactivist it was blocked on copyright grounds.

I have to admit that in the past I found it quite exciting to be travelling on that line in bad weather, do hope it gets fixed before the tourist season.

What on earth are they going to do about the road that has collapsed behind it and the fronts of houses that are falling into the hole?

I always loved the journey along the coast when we lived in Cornwall. I think rerouting it would probably be a nightmare. Can you imagine the protests and public meetings?