Media centre

Wednesday 24 Sep 2008

RAILWAY LINE WORST HIT BY FLOOD REOPENS

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

The line between Caerphilly and Ystrad Mynach, closed owing to flooding, has now reopened to passengers following the completion of repairs.

Twenty-six locations, including Cardiff Central, Newport and Port Talbot, on the rail network in south Wales were hit hard by the heavy downpour. Six lines were closed as a result but four were reinstated on the same day to allow passenger services to resume.

The valley line near Llanbradach was worst hit and Network Rail engineers worked round the clock for nearly two weeks in order to bring it into operation last Thursday (18 September). More than 30 engineers were mobilised and altogether they spent 2,800 hours to reinforce the embankment by constructing a new retaining wall, rebuild the railway track and repair a nearby leaking gas main.

The railway line near Pandy, which was the second worst hit area, was repaired within 36 hours as rail machinery was quickly re-deployed from a nearby Network Rail worksite. Over 500 tonnes of ballast was washed away by the rising river and seriously destabilised the railway track. It was the most severe rail incident to happen in this area in 20 years.

Andrew Wozencraft, infrastructure maintenance delivery manager, says, “Our people have worked tremendously hard to get the railway back up and running as quickly as possible. I am delighted that their hard work has paid off. We would also like to thank passengers and the community for their patience over the past few weeks.”

Simon Pickering, Passenger Focus manager, welcomed the industry’s efforts to return services promptly and minimise disruption to passengers, he says "Passengers accept that these problems were caused by severe weather and needed extensive engineering work to repair. However, passengers much prefer travelling on trains to bus replacement services, so it is very important that such work has been undertaken as quickly as possible."

Jeff Cuthbert AM for Caerphilly says, “I am pleased to hear that the Rhymney Valley line has re-opened between Llanbradach and Ystrad Mynach. I fully understand the overriding importance of safety, and the need to ensure stability of the track, although it has been inconvenient for commuters and to some people living close to the landslip in Llanbradach. I congratulate all those who have worked to repair the damage caused by the exceptionally heavy rainfall.”

Locations affected by the floods were Cardiff Central, Bridgend, Briton Ferry, Port Talbot Parkway, Pontyclun, Caerphilly, Heath Junction, Cogan Junction, Awe, Barry, Marshfield, Heath Junction, Porth, Abergavenny, Park Junction, Aberthaw power station and Newport.