Potteries protected: Stoke-on-Trent street collapse stopped in its tracks

Passenger journeys and residents’ homes are now protected after moving land was secured beside the West Coast main line in Stoke-on-Trent.

Cracks first appeared in the road surface of West Parade in 2018, raising the alarm that the ground was moving and posing a risk to properties and one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight railway lines.

Initial repairs were quickly carried out by Network Rail to stabilise the railway cutting and plans put in place for a longer-term fix.

That major work is now complete as part of a £4m Railway Upgrade Plan investment for passengers and local people.

Emma Gray, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “I’d like to thank people for their patience while we carried out this essential work to secure the railway cutting and protect their homes from potential damage in Stoke-on-Trent.

“Now the work at West Parade is complete, the land will be secure for generations to come, meaning more reliable journeys for passengers below and peace of mind for residents who live by this important section of the West Coast main line.”

Special anchors known as ‘soil nails’ have been drilled into the banks of the railway cutting.

A total of 586 of the underground nails combined with netting on the surface will secure the land from further movement and stop debris from falling onto the West Coast main line.

Network Rail worked closely with train operators to keep people and passengers up to date throughout the project.

John Robson, regional director West Midlands and North West for CrossCountry, said: “We are grateful to Network Rail for acting swiftly to remove the risk of disruption by securing this railway cutting. Our services on this line link the region to the Midlands and South, and ensuring their continued reliable operation supports those still needing to travel.”

Gus Dunster, executive director of operations & safety at Avanti West Coast, said: “We would like to thank our customers for their patience while Network Rail delivered this essential work, as part of their Railway Upgrade Plan. The vital work to secure the land at Stoke-on-Trent will help to improve reliability for customers travelling on the West Coast Main Line for many years to come.”

The improvements also saw new drainage installed along the railway cutting and West Parade was fully resurfaced.

For more information on how Network Rail maintains and repairs the land beside the railway visit www.networkrail.co.uk/earthworks-cutting-slopes-and-embankments/

Photo credit: Network Rail

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