New drone video footage from Network Rail shows the scale of its operation to repair a landslip on the railway in Telford, which is affecting journeys between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury stations.
Passengers are being advised that major work to safely reopen the line between Oakengates and Wellington stations in Shropshire is now expected to be completed by the Easter bank holiday weekend.
On Friday 8 March Network Rail closed the line near Oakengates stations in both directions for safety reasons following a landslip on a steep railway embankment.
More than 5,000 tonnes of material slipped beneath a 50-metre section of the railway after persistent heavy rainfall over the winter months had weakened the earthwork beneath it.
Engineers have been working around the clock since last week to clear the site to allow access for materials and equipment needed to shore up the embankment.
Work to restabilise the railway embankment – which is approximately 15 metres in height – involves digging out material that’s slipped to create a new profile for the slope. Large ‘steps’ will be cut into the slope before engineers backfill it with over 12,000 tonnes of stone, helping to reduce the gradient and strengthen the embankment.
Network Rail engineers are aiming to reopen the railway between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury by Easter and are working closely with partners at West Midlands Railway and Transport for Wales to extend current train services as far as possible in the meantime.
Until Sunday 17 March:
All trains will continue to start and terminate at Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury stations with rail replacement buses serving all stations between.
Ticket acceptance for Transport for Wales customers is currently in place with West Midlands Railway, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry Trains.
From Monday 18 March:
West Midlands Railway will continue to operate rail replacement buses between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. From Monday, a two-hourly limited train service will operate to stations between Wolverhampton and Shifnal. The service will call in both directions at Wolverhampton, Bilbrook, Codsall, Albrighton, Cosford and Shifnal, with the average round journey taking between 20 and 25 minutes.
Transport for Wales will continue to operate rail replacement buses between Shrewsbury and Birmingham. Ticket acceptance for Transport for Wales customers will remain in place with West Midlands Railway, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry Trains.*
Avanti West Coast’s daily service to London Euston will continue to start and finish at Wolverhampton.
Adam Checkley, Infrastructure Director for Network Rail, said: “I’m really sorry to passengers whose journeys are affected by the closure of the railway in Telford after a landslip last week which was caused by prolonged heavy rainfall over the winter months.
“The scale of our repairs are extremely challenging and will involve using over 12,000 tonnes of material to restabilise the failed railway embankment so we can safely reopen the railway.
“We’re currently aiming to fully reopen the line by Easter, but whilst the railway is closed, regular replacement buses will continue to run and I want to remind people to check at www.nationalrail.co.uk and with their train operator for the latest travel advice.”
Jonny Wiseman, WMR Customer Experience Director, said: “This was a significant landslip and I thank passengers for their patience while Network Rail completes crucial repairs.
“With the line closed, we’ve operated a rail replacement service between affected stations and we are pleased to be able to run a train service between Wolverhampton and Shifnal in both directions from Monday.
“Passengers can now check departure times in journey planners and we will be running this partial service until the line reopens.”
Network Rail is working with its contractor Murphy to repair the railway and safely restore train services through Telford as soon as possible.
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