Media centre

Wednesday 5 Nov 2003

£1.4M INVESTED ON RAILWAY AT NUNHEAD TO STABILISE CUTTING AND BRING LONG TERM BENEFITS TO PASSENGERS

Region & Route:

| Southern

            Network Rail has completed major railway cutting stabilisation work at Nunhead as part of its commitment to rebuild the railway. Although no landslips have occurred in recent years there was concern that the cutting slope could become be unstable. The 6-metre deep, steep cutting face, built circa 1860, required complex groundwork to prevent future landslips and maintain a safe and reliable railway. Over 200m of slope was re-graded and stabilised on the line between Nunhead Junction and Lewisham Junction.  Bore holes were drilled into the cutting and filled with concrete and steel to support the slope and prevent future movement. This vital safety related work will improve drainage on the line, reducing potential delays to services and thus bringing long-term benefits to passengers. The Construction Partnership (a partnership between Edmund Nuttall Ltd. and Network Rail) carried out the work, which started on 17 March 2003 and was completed to budget on 27 November 2003. The work was carried out whist trains were running so there was no disruption to trains or passengers.  A full environmental survey was carried out in conjunction with conservation experts to ensure that protected wildlife was not disturbed. The contractors worked to an agreed code of practice to notify residents in advance of the work and to ensure that noise and disruption to local residents was kept to an absolute minimum.             Network Rail Regional Director Robin Gisby said: “The stabilisation of this cutting is part of Network Rail’s commitment to providing a safe and reliable rail network through the maintenance of our infrastructure.”