Design and consultancy company Arcadis has been appointed as the primary contractor on a £1 million project to study the railway line between Exeter and Newton Abbot.

The firm has been appointed by Network Rail to conduct ground investigation studies in the cliff areas between Teignmouth and Dawlish as part of a 50 year scheme.

The findings of the study will provide engineering guidelines to model failure mechanisms and inform the later phases of design where planned intervention measures could be proposed.

At present, the coastal route for the South Devon Railway is prone to storm damage with the breach of the Dawlish sea wall two years ago leaving the line shut for two months. This cost the rail industry an estimated £45 million.

Arcadis Project Manager, Claire Milner, said that they are using innovative GIS technology to deliver the scheme, which will help with communication and improve the quality of data analysis.

Milner added: “This means we can ensure Network Rail is equipped with the information and data it needs for future investment decisions, while at the same time working closely with the local community to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Meanwhile, project sponsor for Network Rail, Joanna Grew insisted that her firm is committed to the long term resilience of the railway between Newton Abbot and Exeter.

Grew continued: “Keeping this railway line available for local communities, as well as passengers and businesses further afield is crucially important.

“This work will provide vital data to feed in to the long term resilience options for this route and allow us to better plan the works in the future.”

Meanwhile, Network Rail announced last month that the line between Folkestone to Dover is set to reopen this autumn.

The project to rebuild the line cost £39.8 million, with work starting on the project in December 2015.