Media centre

Friday 17 Sep 2021

Drone footage shows picturesque rail route’s protection from landslips

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Drone footage has been released showing how one of the country’s most picturesque rail routes has been protected from landslips to secure future journeys for passengers and freight.

Network Rail has invested £1.3m as part of the Great North Rail Project to secure a railway cutting on the Settle to Carlisle line.

It’s after storms earlier this year led to trees coming down at Cumwhinton near Carlisle.

Railway engineers soon spotted the cause was moving earth which also risked falling onto the railway.

Urgent work soon got underway to secure the land, with stretches of sloped lineside re-profiled with new stone to make it more stable and less steep.

More than 10,000m³ of earth was moved during the protection project and 7,000m³ of new stone was laid.

Because of the steep site, specialist excavators were used to carry out the work.

Drainage was also improved so tracks don’t become flooded during extremely wet weather.

Olivia Boland, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to look after the beautiful Settle-Carlisle line.

“Our £1.3m investment to shore up the cutting in Cumwhinton means the line can continue to be enjoyed by locals and tourists, and provide a reliable route for freight trains transporting essential goods from A to B.”

The work took place between April and September with no delays to train services.

For more information on how Network Rail carries out this type of project visit www.networkrail.co.uk/earthworks-cutting-slopes-and-embankments.