A section of the main railway line between Penzance and London will be closed tomorrow due to high sea levels.

Until sea levels fall and the railway line can be inspected in daylight, Network Rail is closing the line between Newton Abbot and Exeter, at Dawlish, from the start of service on Wednesday, November 7 following a Met Office weather warning.

The last Great Western Railway train on the sea wall will be the Night Riviera Sleeper service this evening at 11.45pm, London Paddington to Penzance. The line is expected to be closed until at least midday tomorrow.

From the start of service, GWR and CrossCountry will be unable to operate a train service through Dawlish, until the line is reopened.

GWR will continue to operate trains between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids, and between Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Penzance, however some early morning services may be cancelled at short notice or delayed. Customers should check before they travel for the latest information.

A rail replacement bus service will operate between intermediate stations not served by rail and journey times are expected to be extended by up to an hour, depending on road conditions.

The anticipated heavy rain and high winds may also impact the rail services that GWR is able to operate, potentially leading to longer journey times and further short notice cancellations.

Those with tickets to travel on Wednesday, November 7 will be able to use their tickets to travel on Thursday, November 8, and customers who choose not to travel will be entitled to a refund.

GWR tickets will also be valid on other public transport, including local buses and alternative train routes.

A spokesperson for GWR said strong winds and high tides meant the line between Exeter and Newton Abbott needed to ensure passenger safety. Once the poor weather passes Network Rail engineers would inspect the railway before opening the line as soon as it is safe to do so. GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We support Network Rail’s decision to ensure the safety of rail users, and we’re ready to run trains again as soon as it is safe, and we are given us the green light, to do so.”

Network Rail Western Route Managing Director Mark Langman said: “Safety is our priority and owing to expected extreme weather tomorrow no services will be able to run through Dawlish and Teignmouth in the morning.

“Strong winds and high tides are expected and once the poor weather has passed our engineers will inspect the railway and reopen the line once it is safe to do so.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank passengers for their patience.”

Train services between London Paddington, Plymouth and Penzance

GWR expects to be able to operate train services between London Paddington and Exeter St David’s.

GWR expects to be able to operate train services between Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Penzance.

Train services between Paignton and Exmouth

GWR expects to be able to operate a train service between Paignton and Newton Abbot.

GWR expects to be able to operate a train service between Exeter St David’s and Exmouth.

Where you can use your ticket

• You can use your ticket on both GWR and CrossCountry train services for travel between Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Exeter St Davids and Penzance in both directions.

• You can use your ticket on South Western Railway train services between Exeter St David’s and London Waterloo.

• You can use your ticket on London Underground for travel from London Waterloo to London Paddington, however, industrial action is planned on the Central, Waterloo &City and Piccadilly lines on Wednesday 07th November with a very limited service. Please check the Transport for London (TfL) website before travel.

• You can use your ticket on local bus services with First Kernow on the following routes: First Kernow route 21: St Austell (Station) - St Columb Road (Glen View) - Quintrell Downs (Quintrell Stores) - Newquay, First Kernow route 25: St Austell (Station) - Par (Station), First Kernow route 27: Truro (Bus Station) - St Austell (Station) - Bugle (The Square) - Roche - Bodmin, First Kernow route 87: Truro (Station) - Newquay (Bus Station), First Kernow route T1: Penzance (Station) - St Erth (Station) - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro, First Kernow routes 90, 92, 93: Truro (Bus Station) - St Columb Road (Glen View) - Quintrell Downs (Quintrell Stores) - Newquay, First Kernow route T2: St Ives (Bus Station) - Carbis Bay - Lelant - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) – Truro

• You can use your ticket on local bus services with Stagecoach South West on the following routes: Stagecoach bus route X38: Exeter (Bus Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Bus Station), Stagecoach bus route X64: Exeter (Bus Station) – Newton Abbot (Sherborne Road) – Totnes (Royal Seven Stars), Stagecoach bus route 22: Dawlish Warren - Dawlish (The Green) - Teignmouth - Torquay (Strand) - Paignton (Bus Station), Stagecoach bus route 155: Exeter (Bus Station) - Tiverton (Bus Station) - Barnstaple (Bus Station), Stagecoach bus route 12: Newton Abbot (Station) - Torre (Station) - Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton (Bus Station), Stagecoach bus route 2: Newton Abbot (Sherborne Rd) - Teignmouth - Dawlish (Green) - Starcross (Station) - Exeter (Bus Station).

Stagecoach GOLD bus route: Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton - Totnes (Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Royal Parade).