Swale gas leak repairs completed successfully - Sheerness line expected to re-open tomorrow morning: IMG 0748

Wednesday 9 Oct 2019

Swale gas leak repairs completed successfully - Sheerness line expected to re-open tomorrow morning

Region & Route:
Southern

Passengers on the Sheerness line are advised that SGN have been completed repairs to the leaking gas main near Swale successfully this evening.

Train services between Sittingbourne and Sheerness have been suspended since the leak was reported on Monday. Services will continue to be suspended for the rest of the day while the area is monitored overnight, meaning buses will replace trains until the end of service this evening. 

A full service is expected to resume tomorrow morning. Passengers are advised to continue to check before they travel with Southeastern or National Rail Enquiries.

Passengers are also reminded that they may be entitled to compensation if they have experienced a delay of 15 minutes of more while completing their journey today. Passengers should keep their train ticket and make a note of their journey, as both will be required to support any claim.

SGN, Network Rail and Southeastern would like to thank passengers on the Sheerness line for their patience and understanding while this work has taken place. 

Notes to Editors

What happened?

A gas leak was discovered in the Swale area on Monday evening, from a pipe located near the Kingsferry Bridge and less than five metres from the Sittingbourne to Sheerness railway line.

SGN gas engineers attended on Monday evening to carry out repairs. Repairs to the gas pipe in question were found to be more complex than originally anticipated and were completed around 17:00 on Wednesday evening. 

Trains were suspended following advice from SGN that it would be unsafe to run trains due to the risk from the third rail electrical supply and the possibility of sparks being generated as trains pass the leak area.

SGN were unable to turn off the gas supply while they carry out the repairs as the pipe is a critical supply line for the several thousand homes on the Isle of Sheppey, as well as the hospitals and prison.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Liam Farrell
Liam.Farrell@networkrail.co.uk

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