Letter to the Editor:
Dear Sirs,It only needs a stone viaduct to run parallel with the present Meldon Viaduct and problems would be solved.Brunel’s original plan enabled the GWR from Paddington and the Southern Rail from Waterloo to converge at Exeter St. David’s station, before proceeding to Plymouth and on into Cornwall.The single GWR line from Plymouth to Launceston still works and can be used to by-pass the currently private Brentor Station.Money from the costly HS2 line could be used to develop this alternative way to the West Country, when rough seas or falling cliffs endanger the Dawlish route, which unfortunately will always be prone to damage.
Yours
A Crampton