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Thursday 2 May 2024

Rail passengers urged to check their journeys after Scunthorpe landslip

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: North & East

Rail passengers travelling between Doncaster and Cleethorpes are being urged to check before they travel after a landslip near Scunthorpe station.

Network Rail engineers are currently assessing the track at Frodingham after it’s thought a suspected landslip caused trees to fall onto the line yesterday (Wednesday 1 May).

Initial investigations to assess the damage are continuing and while the railway remains closed today, the engineers involved are working hard to get trains running again soon.

Network Rail is working closely with Northern and TransPennine Express to help keep passengers on the move.

Both train operators are running an amended service with some rail replacement services running*.

While the work to reopen the line continues at pace, Network Rail is advising passengers to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before setting off on their journey.

Jason Hamilton, Network Rail’s Route Director for North & East route, said: “I am sorry that passengers are experiencing disruption to their journeys while our engineers urgently respond to a landslip near Scunthorpe station.

“We have teams on site investigating the severity of the slip and we are developing plans to be able to safely reopen the line as quickly as we can.

“For now, I would urge all passengers travelling through the area to check National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator before setting off on their journey, and allow extra time to travel.”

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: “Services are unable to operate between Scunthorpe and Doncaster in either direction, however - customers heading to Doncaster can still join services at Thorne North. Alternatively, there is a rail replacement bus service but journey times will be extended by around 45 minutes. We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused to our customers.”

Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience and Transformation Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We want to thank our customers for their patience as Network Rail responds to a landslip near Scunthorpe station.

“We are currently operating a direct rail replacement bus service between Scunthorpe and Doncaster where customers will need to change for onward connections towards Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool. A train shuttle service is also in operation between Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe calling at Grimsby Town, Habrough and Barnetby."

“We apologise for the inconvenience and advise customers to check before they travel at www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates or National Rail Enquiries."

To learn more about how Network Rail deals with landslips you can visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/earthworks-cutting-slopes-and-embankments/