Emergency services have been called to close the railway between Plymouth and Liskeard from 1400 to 1800 today (February 23, 2024) to remove an unexploded wartime bomb.
The device from World War Two (WWII) was found in the back garden of a local Plymouth resident following drainage works. Removal of the device is impacting the road network in the area, affecting the ability to provide replacement road transport for rail passengers. The UK's Ministry of Defence is describing it as 'one of the country's largest peacetime evacuations since WWII.
The unexploded device will be carried by road to a slipway at the Dockyard Port of Plymouth, where it will be transferred to sea for disposal.
GWR has said it will help its customers who have already purchased tickets for travel today through the affected area. Tickets will remain valid for travel later today and up to and including Saturday February 24.
Passengers travelling towards Devon and Cornwall have been advised to avoid attempting to travel beyond Plymouth and to delay their journey. Meanwhile, those travelling from Cornwall are advised to avoid attempting to travel beyond Liskeard and to delay their journey.
A pair of GWR Class 802 IETs at London Paddington station. GWR
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