Rail plans mobilised to restore services through Bridgwater

Wednesday 5 Mar 2014

Rail plans mobilised to restore services through Bridgwater

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Western; | Wales & Western

Network Rail is mobilising its engineers to assess damage to the railway, whilst exploring a temporary solution to enable some services to run, as flood water starts to recede at Bridgwater.

The majority of the 2000 yards of track, embankment and signalling equipment at Bridgwater have emerged from the water and this has enabled engineers to access the infrastructure and remove all the debris from the track. However, to determine the extent of damage and scope of repair required, a thorough technical assessment will be essential before repairs are made.

Patrick Hallgate, route managing director, Network Rail Western said: “We are determined to do everything we can to get passengers on the move again. We got into action as soon as the water receded sufficiently but careful examinations by our engineers remain vital as the infrastructure has been submerged for a long time. Whilst assessing the damage, we will also be reviewing a temporary signalling solution that could enable some trains to operate, which will significantly reduce disruption to passengers.”

The railway between Taunton and Bridgwater currently remains closed until further notice. Passengers travelling through Bridgwater are advised to check with the National Rail Enquiries or their train operating companies for information on alternative services. - end -

Notes to editors

Tracks: are full of debris - mostly plant matter like large logs and branches, some lodged in points or other moving parts, stopping them working. This has to be cleared by hand. Mud has to be removed from the rails, which will affect traction. Currents flowing across the line of the rail may have moved it out of alignment (horizontally and/or vertically) which may not be visible to the naked eye.

Ballast: for safety and reliability, ballast may need removing, cleaning and replacing. Granite ballast that is covered in muck and grime will not tessellate (the sharp edges will not grip and hold as a heavy train goes over), but will slide around which affects the track.

There are special trains that dig out ballast, weigh it, clean it, replace it and add more if needed but they are unable to go on the embankments if they are unsafe

Embankments may have been undermined by waves eroding their sides. Flowing water may have washed away soil or ballast under the track. Saturated soil has less structural strength than normal soil.

As the flood waters recede, checks will be carried out on the embankments to examine if they are strong enough to carry the weight of a passing train, and assess the risk of landslips.

Signalling: miles of cables have been immersed for a long time, plus electrical cabinets and signals flooded out. This is a critically important element of safe rail travel.

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