Parts of the South West have effectively been "cut off" after a Devon rail line collapsed into the sea.
Ministers are looking at alternatives to the lifeline stretch of rail in Dawlish, which has been destroyed by the storms.
The government is now under pressure to look again at a £100m high-speed line to improve train times, the Western Morning News reported.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW:
Dawlish Storm Damage
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(01 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Winter weather Feb 5th(02 of50)
A huge length of railway track is exposed and left hanging after the sea wall collapsed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(03 of50)
A huge length of railway track is exposed and left hanging after the sea wall collapsed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(04 of50)
A huge length of railway track is exposed and left hanging after the sea wall collapsed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(05 of50)
A huge length of railway track is exposed and left hanging after the sea wall collapsed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(06 of50)
Workmen assess a huge hole exposing ground services and exposed railway track after the sea wall collapsed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(07 of50)
Waves break across the length of the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(08 of50)
Beach huts that were once standing on the sea wall are now wrecked and destroyed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(09 of50)
Beach huts that were once standing on the sea wall are now wrecked and destroyed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(10 of50)
Beach huts that were once standing on the sea wall are now wrecked and destroyed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(11 of50)
Police officers keep an eye on the public and prevent people from breeching cordons as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(12 of50)
Beach huts that were once standing on the sea wall are now wrecked and destroyed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(13 of50)
Beach huts that were once standing on the sea wall are now wrecked and destroyed in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(14 of50)
Waves crash over the railway line which has already received extensive damage in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(15 of50)
Police officers keep an eye on the public and prevent people from breeching cordons as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(16 of50)
People are caught out as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(17 of50)
Waves break across the length of the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(18 of50)
A view of some of the damage on the sea wall railway in Dawlish, causing damage, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(19 of50)
Debris sits in a swollen river in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and causing damage to property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(20 of50)
Waves crash over the railway line which has already received extensive damage in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(21 of50)
Seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(22 of50)
A huge waves break over the railway in Dawlish, causing damage, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(23 of50)
A huge waves break over the railway in Dawlish, causing damage, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(24 of50)
A car on a flooded street by the sea wall railway in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(25 of50)
People watch as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(26 of50)
A huge waves break over the railway in Dawlish, causing damage, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(27 of50)
A workman turns away as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(28 of50)
Cars still use the flooded road as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(29 of50)
A huge wave breaks behind a car, which sits in seawater on a flooded street by the sea wall railway in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(30 of50)
A man walks past a metal fence protecting the railway by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(31 of50)
A huge waves break over the railway in Dawlish, causing damage, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(32 of50)
A man in the torrential rain in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(33 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront and the railway station that has been closed due to storm damage at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Winter weather Feb 5th(34 of50)
People watch as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(35 of50)
Cars still use the flooded road as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Winter weather Feb 5th(36 of50)
Cars still use the flooded road as seawater crashes and spills onto the road by the sea wall in Dawlish, where high tides and strong winds have created havoc in the Devonshire town disrupting road and rail networks and damaging property. (credit:PA)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(37 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront and the railway station that has been closed due to storm damage at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(38 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront and the railway station that has been closed due to storm damage at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of England(39 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Railway workers inspect the main Exeter to Plymouth railway line that has been closed due to parts of it being washed away by the sea at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(40 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront and the railway station that has been closed due to storm damage at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(41 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: People take photographs as waves crash against the seafront and the railway line that has been closed due to storm damage at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(42 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(43 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: People wade through flood water as waves crash against the seafront at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(44 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(45 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: People watch as waves crash against the seafront and the railway line that has been closed due to storm damage at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of England(46 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Railway workers inspect the main Exeter to Plymouth railway line that has been closed due to parts of it being washed away by the sea at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(47 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: A man takes a photograph of some of the beach huts that have been damaged by the storm waves at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of The UK(48 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Waves crash against the seafront at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of England(49 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Railway workers inspect the main Exeter to Plymouth railway line that has been closed due to parts of it being washed away by the sea at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Storms Hit South West Of England(50 of50)
DAWLISH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Railway workers inspect the main Exeter to Plymouth railway line that has been closed due to parts of it being washed away by the sea at Dawlish on February 5, 2014 in Devon, England. With high tides combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Pete Fox from the Environment Agency said the tidal movements were making the recovery operation more difficult.
He told BBC Breakfast: "It really hampers efforts to repair.
"Our teams have been out in places like Helston, and further down the coast in Cornwall, overnight, doing work to try and repair and keep the water flowing, because we are facing this conveyor belt of storms coming to the south, south west of England."
It comes as more appalling weather is forecast.
High winds are expected to lash the Channel tonight into tomorrow, potentially causing disruption to the popular ferry crossing route.
Upland areas including Salisbury Plain, South Downs and North Downs are set to be the worst affected by the downpours, and the Met Office has issued an amber warning in these parts urging locals to "be prepared".
A yellow warning for rain is in place across the rest of southern England and Wales meaning that people living in these areas should "be aware".
And winds of up to 40mph are set to batter the south coast, potentially bringing dangerously high waves and wreaking fresh damage to these storm-hit areas.