20.02.08
Bank slip needs long term fix
Around 100,000 tonnes of material will have to be removed from a bank in West Yorkshire which has caused disruption to rail services on the Hebden Bridge to Wakefield line.
Around 40 tonnes of trees and earth have slipped down the bank at Elland after heavy rain. Engineers estimate it could cost around £4m to get a permanent fix and rail services are likely to have some disruption for several months.
Dyan Crowther, route director for Network Rail, said: "Although this site was not a problem for us during the floods last summer, engineers were already investigating what action was needed to stabilise the bank and a speed restriction had been placed on the lines to ensure safety.”
The site is difficult to get to as it is a considerable distance from any access points, and down a steep bank (40-45 degrees) which is covered in vegetation. A layer of weathered mudstones, perhaps 4 or 5 metres deep, is moving towards the railway. The rate of movement is dependent on the presence and volume of water. Network Rail said that if we have more heavy rainfall it may be necessary to fully re-close the line for safety reasons.
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