Mary Creagh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on the re-opening of the Great Western mainline at Dawlish, said:

“The reopening of the rail line through Dawlish is good news for the South West. Network Rail staff have worked around the clock in difficult and dangerous conditions to restore services.

“But people are rightly asking David Cameron why his out-of-touch Government dragged its feet in providing £31 million in rail flood resilience funding. This money was originally promised to the South West over a year ago, but only materialised after the devastating floods in February.

“David Cameron’s visit will be cold comfort to the businesses and communities hit by the closure of the Dawlish line. The cost of dealing with the aftermath of this year’s floods will run into billions of pounds, much greater than the cost of acting to prevent them.

“Flooding is the biggest environmental threat facing the UK. People want swift answers on the future of rail services to the South West.”