The team of engineers who worked to reopen the rail link following the severe weather at the start of 2014, have been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal at the 2014 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Awards.

The Brunel Medal, named after civil engineering legend Isambard Kingdom Brunel, recognises individuals or teams who have shown excellence in civil engineering. Fittingly, this year it goes to a team who repaired part of a railway Brunel himself designed.

The ICE Awards Committee said the work demonstrated a “shining example of civil engineers doing what they do best - teamwork, inventiveness, innovation, quick thinking and sheer determination.”

Opened in 1846, the South Devon Railway is the only rail connection from the Westcountry to the rest of the UK. It is accustomed to extreme weather conditions, however, the severity of the storms in February 2014 caused chaos, cutting the west of the region off by rail. Between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth 4.5 miles of railway infrastructure was severely damaged, including a 100 metre breach to the Dawlish Sea Wall.

On February 6, less than 48 hours after the first call, a joint team comprising Network Rail, BAM, AMCO, Dyer & Butler, Sisk and Tony Gee & Partners had assembled to plan the repairs. No ideas were unwelcome, with 10-tonne shipping containers full of debris working as a temporary breakwater and water cannon used during the emergency project. 

Through late February and March, the team worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week to repair and reinstate the line, facing constant challenges from the sea and land.

An average of 300 people each day and 150 each night working to re-open the line and eight weeks on from the first storm, after battling high waves, rain, gales and a further landslip - the rail link to South and West Devon and Cornwall re-opened on April 4.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, praised the “orange army” of engineers for their "herculean effort" in completing the repairs.

Tim Broyd, ICE Awards chair said: “If any project is worthy of the Brunel Medal, it is this. Considering the extent of the damage and the relentless conditions the engineers were faced with, it is quite extraordinary that they were able to complete the works and get the track up and running before Easter - two weeks ahead of schedule.

“It is a huge achievement and one which truly highlights the importance of civil engineers to society. I have no doubt that if Brunel was with us today he would be extremely proud - congratulations to all involved.”

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail said: “It seems fitting that the Dawlish team should be awarded the Brunel Medal for like him they have shown great vision and ingenuity, ably overcoming every challenge and obstacle that has been sent their way. Our work is not yet done and the team continues to repair and improve the resilience of the network in the Dawlish area. I congratulate each and every one of them for this well-deserved award.”