The Government will "shortly" announce whether to fund an additional rail line to the vulnerable coastal link at Dawlish that collapsed into the sea earlier this year.
Leader of the House of Commons William Hague confirmed the Department for Transport will reveal its plans imminently after being pressed for a debate on the options mapped out by rail bosses Network Rail.
This summer, the Government published the report that detailed seven alternative routes that would cost between £400 million and £3 billion.
The quango said that even in the best-case scenario the financial case for each new route remains "unpromising, with each one still offering poor value for money".
It could therefore mean ministers opt to shore up the existing line, however critics say the analysis has so far failed take into account the full economic impact of a new line.
During Business of the House Questions in the Commons, Oliver Colvile, Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, said: "Earlier this year, the railway line at Dawlish was swept away, completely cutting off Plymouth, west Devon and Cornwall from the rest of the country's rail network.
"Earlier this summer, Network Rail published a report suggesting alternative routes. Will the Government find time either for the Secretary of State for Transport to make a statement, or for us to have a proper debate on the matter, because it is incredibly important to the South West and to my constituents?"
Mr Hague responded: "That issue is of massive importance to your constituents.
"As he has said, Network Rail's study considers alternative options for providing a long-term, resilient route west of Exeter, including reopening alignments, making the existing route more resilient and maintaining rail connectivity to coastal communities.
"The Secretary of State will announce his findings on the study shortly, so I ask you to await that announcement."
Network Rail has not analysed the economic benefits of shoring up the existing Dawlish line.
