Severe rain causes landslip on Somerset rail line with trains delayed

Severe rain has caused a landslip on a rail line and major road closures which will see motorists and trains delayed until next week. Severe disruption has been felt across the country this week following heavy rain.

And there was major chaos with roads closed and no trains in and out of Devon and Cornwall due to flooded train tracks. Though many roads are now open and most services have returned to normal, a landslip above the Crewkerne Tunnel in Somerset has meant Network Rail engineers must undergo repairs.

Motorists have also been informed a major Somerset road will be affected for days by problems caused by flash flooding. National Highways set up a road closure on the A303 between the A3088 (Cartgate) and A359 (Sparkford).

Network Rail and SWR are therefore urging customers not to attempt to travel between Salisbury and Exeter until Monday 11 December. Network Rail completed inspections late last night and early this morning to assess the situation before engineers began work using ropes to abseil down the cutting and start removing vegetation before beginning excavating debris.

Over the coming days, Network Rail’s team of engineers will work around the clock to excavate around 100 tonnes of clay, soil and vegetation from around the tunnel entrance to help stabilise the cutting. Engineers are initially excavating by hand, lowering the debris to the track via chutes before its transported away on an engineering train.

A long reach excavator will also be brought in and situated on top of the tunnel using an extra-long arm and bucket to help with the removal of the debris. As a result, SWR is unable to run services between Salisbury and Exeter St David’s and is urging customers not to attempt to travel on this route, particularly as severe flooding continues to impact the planned rail replacement bus services.

Matt Pocock, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “I would like to say how sorry we are for the disruption passengers are experiencing following a landslip at Crewkerne tunnel.

“We’ve experienced over 90mm of sustained heavy rain over the past 48 hours and this has resulted in movement in the earth on the cutting above the tunnel entrance which, if action isn’t taken, could spill over onto the tracks and risk the safety of passenger services."

Flooding has also limited travellers by car, as motorists have been informed a major Somerset road will be affected for days by problems caused by flooding.

National Highways set up a road closure on the A303 between the A3088 (Cartgate) and A359 (Sparkford). Crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service joined highways officers at the scene to pump the water away.

The Eastbound lane reopened on the morning of Wednesday 6 December. However, there are set to be further issues on Thursday 7 December, with more heavy rain forecast leading to a weather warning covering most of Somerset.

Steve Tyler, South Western Railway’s Performance and Planning Director, added: “We’re really sorry that the emergency closure of Crewkerne tunnel means we won’t be able to serve stations between Salisbury and Exeter St David’s until Monday.

“We know how disruptive this is for customers in run up to Christmas, so our teams are examining potential ways to run an extremely limited service between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction via Westbury in the coming days.

"Please check our website for the latest updates.”

References

1. ^{^} Family's heartbreaking tribute to loving dad-of-four killed in crash (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Plans for 73 homes in village near Yeovil branded 'uncomfortable fit' by planning inspector (www.somersetlive.co.uk)