WATCH: Stunning footage shows Dawlish railway reconstruction – a year after floods

INCREDIBLE time-lapse footage of a major repair operation on the Dawlish railway line has been released - a year after it was ravaged by devastating floods.

Dawlish railway reconstruction by Network Rail engineers

Network Rail engineers worked day and night to repair the railway line SWNS

Network Rail engineers worked day and night to repair the railway line

Today marked the first anniversary of the severe storms that wrecked part of the main rail link between Devon and Cornwall and the rest of the UK.

The two-minute video shows how Network Rail’s 'orange army' worked tirelessly day and night around the tide to rebuild the 100ft length of track on the south coast of Devon.

The broken line, which runs between the coast and the town, became a symbol of the devastation caused by last winter's notorious weather when it collapsed into the sea.

In February last year, locals watched on in horror as the sea engulfed 80 metres of the track, which links Exeter St Davids with Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Penzance.

In February last year, locals watched on in horror as the sea engulfed 80 metres of the track SWNS

In February last year, locals watched on in horror as the sea engulfed 80 metres of the track

Our 300-strong orange army battled against the elements to get the railway line up and running - their skills and thinking have been vital to the success so far

Network Rail project manager Tom Kirkham

The fascinating YouTube video of the line's repair ends with overhead drone footage showing the 'oil rig' towers on the beach, which acted as a base from which workers could restore the vital line.

Network Rail workers faced a number of problems once the restoration had got underway - after a later storm on Valentine's Day last year hampered their efforts and damaged the 10-tonne shipping containers forming a temporary sea wall.

There were further problems on March 4 when engineers discovered that a large portion of the cliff face near Teignmouth, just south of Dawlish, had sheared away above the railway.

Around 25,000 tonnes of collapsed cliff had to be removed before work could continue.

However, a 300-strong team battled against the elements to get the railway line up and running before Easter last year - two weeks ahead of schedule.

Project Manager at Network Rail, Tom Kirkham, said: "The scale of the damage we encountered when we first arrived on site was unprecedented.

The broken line became a symbol of the devastation caused by last winter's notorious weatherSWNS

The broken line became a symbol of the devastation caused by last winter's notorious weather

"One year on we have fixed the damage and are also improving the railway in the South West through this vital connection for local people, businesses and tourists.

"Our 300-strong orange army battled against the elements to get the railway line up and running - their skills and thinking have been vital to the success so far."

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