River Plym railway bridge repair
We’re repairing River Plym railway bridge in Plymouth
River Plym railway bridge is east of Plymouth city centre, close to the A38 Devon Expressway. It carries the railway between Plymouth and Totnes.
What work is taking place?
We need to strengthen the 50-metre long bridge to make sure it remains safe for decades to come. Trains that use the bridge are now faster, heavier and more frequent. If no work is done, it increases the risk of a fault developing in the near future.
134 steel rail bearers will be installed between the existing cross-beams on the bridge. New FFU rail bearers will also be laid along the length of the bridge. FFU is a synthetic wood that’s lighter and more durable than traditional timber, it lasts six times as long and requires far less maintenance.
180 metres of track will be replaced over and either side of the bridge and the bridge will also be repainted.
When is work taking place?
We’ll be working from September 2025 until August 2026. The core work takes place in February and March 2026.
Will trains be affected?
During our core work buses will replace some trains:
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February and Monday 2 to Sunday 8 March – buses replace trains between Totnes and Plymouth.
Monday 23 February to Sunday 1 March – buses replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth.
For full details visit the GWR website.
How will you protect the River Plym?
To complete the project, we need to access the bridge from the river. To do this, we’ll install a temporary dam. Only half the river will be dammed at any time to ensure the flow of the river isn’t interrupted and fish aren’t disturbed. Consent has been obtained from the Marine Management Organisation and Environment Agency.
What else is happening?
During the core dates, we’ll take full advantage to work on the railway while trains aren’t running to:
- Resurface the Plymouth-bound platform at Totnes station
- Complete track and drainage maintenance
- Carry out vegetation management
- Replace rail near Newton Abbot
- Replace a track crossing near Ivybridge
- Complete surveys as part of our preliminary work to upgrade the signalling system in the area
Contact us
If you have any questions or require further information in the meantime, you can get in touch with us by visiting our contact us page or by calling our 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.