Glenfinnan Viaduct

EVEN non-railway enthusiasts in the UK (and around the world) recognise the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, with its beautiful arches made famous by the Harry Potter film series.

Its spectacular pillars support 50ft semi-circular arches 100ft above the ground to create a grand curve that spreads 1,248ft across the Finnan Valley, carrying the West Highland Railway from Mallaig to Fort William.

However, the potential for landslips and rockfalls from the hillsides and embankments around the viaduct is a significant problem, and could cause substantial damage, delays and risk to passengers and railway workers. Network Rail is therefore investing £1.7 million to remove loose vegetation from the slopes above the railway and to install rock netting.

To improve the line’s resilience and reliability, the project will protect 14 rock cuttings on a two-and-a-half-mile stretch of single-track railway between Locheilside and Lochailort, which encompasses both Glenfinnan station and the viaduct.

It will also include renewal of boundary fencing - to protect the many thousands of visitors to the area who follow the tourist path up the hillside to get a better view of the beautiful scenery, as well as to prevent trespass.

Before the rock netting can be installed, any trees that are considered to be a danger to the railway will be cut down. Specialist abseil teams will then remove smaller vegetation and debris from the rock-face. Top and bottom anchors are then drilled and grouted into the hillside before the metal mesh is secured into place. In areas where the risk of rocks falling is particularly high, a high-tensile mesh is used to provide further protection.

“The work on the line between Fort William and Mallaig is part of a wider maintenance programme which identifies areas prone to landslip or rock fall, and proactively works to protect the railway from this,” says Diane Jones, Network Rail’s project manager for the work at Glenfinnan.

“With an ever-growing number of tourists visiting the area, it is important that we deliver these works beyond the main tourist season, where possible, or in the evenings so people can continue to get to Glenfinnan by rail.

“Doing this proactively to protect the railway reduces the likelihood of having to carry out costly emergency repairs, but more importantly it helps avoid any potential closure of this key rural route, which is a lifeline connection for passenger and freight.”

The work, which is being delivered by QTS on behalf of

NR, is planned to continue until April.