Media centre

Monday 14 Jun 2010

GLASGOW–OBAN LINE REOPENS ON SCHEDULE

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Train services between Glasgow and Oban resumed this morning (June 14) following the successful completion of operations to recover a derailed train and repair damaged tacks at Falls of Cruachan.

Work to repair sections of track damaged in a derailment on Sunday, June 7, were successfully completed over the weekend with Network Rail engineers working around the clock to allow the reopening of the railway and the adjacent A85.

Reopening the road and railway signals the end of a highly-complex, week-long operation to recover the train – which involved using a 1,000 tonne crane to remove a carriage which was balanced on the embankment above the road.

The train carriage was recovered as planned on Friday afternoon with engineers then beginning the process of repairing the railway and inspecting the line for other potential rockfall sites.

David Simpson, Network Rail route director Scotland, said: “This has been a very complex operation due to the location of the site and the unique design of the road, with its limited ability to support the equipment involved.

“Our engineers literally had to strike a very difficult balancing act when positioning the crane to remove the derailed vehicle. To have completed the works in less than a week is a tribute to the professionalism of all involved.

“This has also been a real team effort and such a quick recovery has only been possible thanks to the close cooperation and support we have received from partner organisations such as Transport Scotland, the BTP, Transerv and the local emergency services.”