Media centre

Tuesday 25 Feb 2020

Residents reminded of footpath closure next month as Network Rail work to protect East Yorkshire railway embankment

Region & Route:

Eastern

Network Rail is reminding residents in East Yorkshire that a section of the Hessle Foreshore footpath will temporarily close next month as work starts on an £8million project to protect the railway embankment.

Work to strengthen and stabilise the railway embankment, which carries the Hull to Selby line, will begin on Monday, 9 March and complete in January 2021.

The work will see engineers install a steel coastal defence wall, which will be 138m long and approximately 20m deep. This will protect the embankment from damage caused by coastal erosion and builds upon work which Network Rail carried out in 2018. This project is vital and will mean that train services can continue to run reliably and safely for years to come.  

In order for this work to be carried out safely, a section of the Hessle Foreshore footpath, which runs alongside the railway between Hessle and North Ferriby, will be temporarily closed from Monday, 9 March until January 2021.

During this time, there will be no access to this section of the footpath. Due to the scale of the work, it is not possible to provide a diversion route. Residents and visitors are encouraged to use public transport to bypass this part of the Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail.

Clare Brint, Route Asset Manager for Network Rail, said: “This is absolutely vital work to protect the railway from coastal erosion. We know this is a popular walking route and we do apologise for any inconvenience which this closure causes.

“We’ve already seen the effect which coastal erosion can have on the railway and we’re working hard to protect the embankment, which will mean train services can continue running reliably and safely for years to come.

“Once this work is completed in early 2021, we hope people return to enjoy a walk or bike ride on this section of the Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail.”

ENDS