Transport Secretary Mark Harper unveiled a plaque to mark the completion and official opening of Dawlish's new £80m sea wall on Monday (3 July).

A storm damaged the original wall in 2014, cutting off rail access to the South West beyond.

The new sea wall opened to the public in May and is two and a half metres taller than the original at eight metres high and is 775 metres long.

Damage to the railway at Dawlish in 2014 (Network Rail)

Pupils from Westcliff Primary Academy helped unveil the plaque on Monday and read a poem about how the sea wall will protect the railway from the impacts of climate change.

Sidmouth's MP Simon Jupp, who is a parliamentary private secretary to Mark Harper, said: "During my maiden speech, I made a plea to #GetDawlishDone. Never again should such a vital part of our railway be washed away.

"As Chair of the Great South West All-Party Parliamentary Group, it was great to join the Transport Secretary in Dawlish at the completion of the town’s new sea wall designed to protect its iconic seaside tracks.

"The multi-million-pound project to reinforce the line around Dawlish isn’t over yet, but we’re making the multi-million-pound investment needed."

Michelle Handforth of Network Rail said: "I'm delighted that we could be joined by the Secretary of State for Transport to mark the official opening of the sea wall in Dawlish.

"The line is a vital transport link for the South West, something that was starkly highlighted when sections of the railway were washed away and flooded during an intense storm in 2014.

Contractors celebrate completion of Dawlish sea wall (Network Rail)

"Enhancing the resilience of this coastal stretch of line is vitally important for the region, especially given the challenges posed by climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather.

"Working with world-leading engineers and with funding from the government, we've been able to protect the railway line and town of Dawlish for generations to come.

"I'd particularly like to thank the Dawlish community for their patience and support while the construction took place close to their homes and businesses over three and half years."

Pupils from Westcliff Primary Academy in Dawlish read poem about sea wall (Network Rail)

Other projects at the railway are still ongoing.

These include a rockfall shelter north of Parson's Tunnel, a new accessible footbridge with lifts at Dawlish railway station, and netting and fencing work on the cliffs between Dawlish and Holcombe.

SEE ALSO: Dawlish's MP attempts to secure at-risk rail protection funding