Babbacombe Cliff Railway: Refurbishment works start ahead of reopening

Babbacombe Cliff Railway is set to re-open next month, it has been announced today (Saturday, May 20).

Trustees of the railway that has shuttled hundreds of thousands of locals and holidaymakers to and from Oddicombe Beach since it first opened in 1926, say the are 'thrilled' that contractors have started work this week on the planned refurbishment.

Today, they posted on Facebook: "Over the next month or so there will be various workmen on site changing track switches, track bearers, sleepers and updating some of the railways heritage parts.

"This investment of £250,000 has been made possible by the hard work that our team of staff, volunteers and trustees have done over many years. As a not-for-profit company with volunteers directors we are able to put all monies back in to preserve the railway for future generations.

"If all goes according to plan then we will be open before the end of June and look forward to welcoming all of our customers back."

The railway refurbishment has been delayed: "I’m sure people can understand that this is a unique facility and everything has to be manufactured for us.

"All railway contractors in the UK are working on HS2 and for us in the West Country it has proved difficult to get people on site. You can’t buy bits for a funicular railway from B&Q!

"Our volunteer directors are working round the clock. Similar projects in the UK have taken up to two years to complete and we have been delayed by just a few months."