What Planet is Richard Madeley On?

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?

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!)

Local MP on the lunch-time news - if she has her way it WILL be saved (and cheaper than re-routing inland, even if they have to build a breakwater as well as properly repairing the line and the seawall.

I think I know what he meant, it just came out wrongly. He probably meant a manmade structure through natural features?
It used to be the most exciting part of the rail journey down to the SW when I was a child , going through the tunnels, rushing out into the corridor to see the sea. And we have walked along that sea wall from Teignmouth, waves on one side, trains rushing past on the other. I hope that they can save it and not have to move it inland.

Turn the music off (it's horrid) and watch this, it's not brilliant, but gives you an idea of what the journey's like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZcPxR0W9ag

grannyactivist that's lovely. I've always liked him.

I think we can work out just what he meant. Can't believe I have been in that area so many times without going on that railway! Must do so when they eventually get it up and running again.

I think he was talking about that if you are traveling on that certain line it is almost as if you are traveling on water...

grannyactivist - that's a nice story. Sometimes they come across differently on TV. I suppose they have an image to keep up.

I'm surprised he supports it as he has a home in Cornwall. There are lovely views from it but its always causing trouble so IMHO I think they should spend the money re routing it .false economy I think. someone on radio Devon suggested scrapping the plans for the high speed midlands line to do something about the West Country, but what to do in the meantime?

Okay, I'll 'fess up. I've actually come across the bloke a couple of times and both times he was as nice as pie. The first time was when my youngest daughter (aged 3) got kicked in the face (accidentally) on a bouncy castle. Richard M was there with his wife and leapt into action even before I could, rescuing her from the melee and dabbing at her bleeding lip with a clean tissue. It wasn't done for show and he was genuinely concerned. Nearly thirty years later I met him again one early morning in the green room of one of the TV stations; he'd been out sleeping rough the night before to draw attention to the plight of London's street sleepers. We watched my daughter's TV appearance together (he was appearing on the same programme) and chatted, I told him of his previous encounter with her and then he spent a happy few minutes playing with my grandson before chatting to my daughter when she was off air. On the same programme there was a very eccentric person who caused one or two people in the room to roll their eyes, but again he was very gentle with her and took great pains to try and ease her nervousness.
And yes, what he's reported to have said on the JV show was daft, but I think we have some idea of what he meant.
Having done that railway journey many, many times - including having waves break over the train - it's one of the most breathtaking journeys in England.
But I am now cut off from youngest son who only ever travels home by train. Boo-hoo!

Yes - that floppy haired boyish look! He seems rather a loose cannon though. He seems to think he can say what he likes - tries to shock.

You mean in a Hugh Grant sort of way?

I think he is an absolute pillock, very full of himself. However, I think he is really attractive (physically I mean). Not that that's got anything to do with anything. Just saying......

Why do people encourage this man allowing him to believe he is actually interesting. Pee's me off he gets paid for it too!

Unfortunately I have to go out, or I could continue to explore the possibilities all afternoon.

O brave new world!

Along with the pair to my new socks.

I think I've just fallen into an intergalactic time warp.

If a railway track is a natural feature, why do we need to spend money building them. Mother Nature has had the foresight to provide them for us. I wonder whether she has an locomotive-building factory hidden away somewhere too? Or an intergalactic transport vehicle? Or a renewable, non-polluting power station?