The latest phase of work to stabilise the slopes alongside the Severn Estuary line will be undertaken by Network Rail and its contractor AmcoGiffen from Monday 31 July to Friday 18 August.
Engineers will be working on a one-mile-stretch of railway, close to Purton, and will remove around 15,000 tonnes of material from the cliff face.
Teams will then begin to install an ‘active’ mesh system covering 19,500 square metres secured by more than 5,000 rock bolts. This system will hold the cliff face in position and help to prevent landslips from damaging and subsequently closing the railway.
Prior to phase one of this project last summer, the Newport-Gloucester line was struck by five major incidents recorded between 2020-2021. This has led to extended closures of the railway and temporary speed restrictions, delaying more than 200,000 trains.
More recently, this stretch of railway was hit by three landslips in January 2023 alone, following a bout of prolonged heavy rainfall.
Nick Millington, route director for Network Rail Wales & Borders, said: “The line between Newport and Gloucester is particularly vulnerable to landslips due to its exposed location along the Severn Estuary.
“We are seeing more frequent extreme weather events as a result of climate change, which is why we are prioritising resilience projects like this, to protect vital passenger and freight links in the Wales and Borders route. This investment will ensure fewer closures and speed restrictions in the future, providing passengers and freight customers with a more reliable service.”
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