13.04.18
Services disrupted after landslip throws up 100 tonnes of debris on Surrey track
Southern Rail services have been disrupted following a major landslip last night.
The landslip, between Horsham and Dorking, has resulted in all lines between these statins being blocked, and so trains have been cancelled in all directions, with replacement buses in operation.
The incident has caused an estimated 100 tonnes of mud, grass and trees to come down onto the tracks, and Network Rail has said that the embankment remains unstable, with further slippage having occurred as debris is removed from the track.
Network Rail engineers worked throughout the night to remove more than 20 tonnes of debris so far, and although the work is progressing on schedule, the line is expected to be closed for the remainder of the day. It is hoped that it will reopen tomorrow.
An emergency response team has been on site since yesterday afternoon, when a small embankment slip was reported by a train driver. Initially one line was able to be kept open, but further significant movement led to both lines being closed.
Once the spoil has been removed to the nearest access point, which is more than half a mile away, the focus will turn to stabilising the embankment to enable the railway to reopen.
In a statement on its website Southern Rail said that it “endeavours to have the lines reopen as soon as possible” and will update the public with any further developments as they become available.
Shaun King, Network Rail interim chief operating officer, said: “Our team has worked hard through the night to remove more than 20 tonnes of debris from the tracks, but there’s still a huge amount more to do.
“It’s a challenging location but we’re absolutely focused on getting the railway back open for Southern passengers as quickly and safely as possible.”
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