Railway work to replace 50-year-old track

A section of railway line in Devon is scheduled to close for two weeks in November for maintenance.

Honiton Tunnel between Axminster and Exeter will have its 50-year-old track replaced and new sleepers and ballasts installed, Network Rail said.

Buses will replace trains between Axminster and Exeter St Davids from 9 November to 22 November, it said.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail's Wessex route director, said the work would ensure "the continued safe and reliable running of train services".

Network Rail said the existing track was coming to the end of its life, meaning it was prone to faults that could cause disruption and delays.

It said the new rail would make for smoother journeys with fewer faults, as well as being coated with a protective layer to resist corrosion.

Other works are planned during the closure, including improving track drainage, maintenance work at Feniton Level Crossing and Fenny Bridges Foot Crossing, cutting back diseased and dangerous trees and replacing half a mile (805m) of track between Pinhoe and Feniton.

Network Rail said the line was scheduled to reopen on Saturday 23 November.

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