Tunnel’s new equipment ‘is rusting’
THE UK’s transport minister has admitted the Severn Tunnel’s closure – which has caused rail delays between Cardiff and Bristol – is down to new overhead electrification equipment rusting.
Jo Johnson said that the cabling installed the last time it was closed is deteriorating because conditions are “wet” and “corrosive” inside the tunnel.
Trains are being diverted via Gloucester and the situation has been condemned as “hopeless” and “beyond belief”.
The tunnel was shut for six weeks in September 2016 as part of a £10m upgrade to prepare the historic rail route for electrification.
The latest delays for travellers, which are due to continue until July 7, will raise further questions about the competence of both Whitehall and Network Rail to carry out major infrastructure projects.
Network Rail said it was taking the “opportunity” to maintain the new equipment because work on Bristol’s Patchway tunnels necessitated closing the Severn Tunnel.
Paul Harding of Railfuture, which campaigns for a better rail network, was in no doubt about what travellers will think of the admission that newly-installed overhead conductor system is starting to deteriorate.
He said: “Passengers and taxpayers are not going to be happy that equipment installed less than two years ago is already rusting. Passengers have faced months of inconvenience with diversions and line closures due to the electrification programme and it looks as though there’ll be much more disruption before the benefits even begin to be felt.
“There are lessons for the whole rail industry here about planning, construction and procurement. Hopefully these lessons can be learnt before electrification of the core Valleys lines begin.”
Transport Minister Jo Johnson admitted the problems in a response to Blaenau Gwent Labour MP Nick Smith.
Mr Smith tabled the following written question: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether electrical equipment installed during the previous closure of the Severn Tunnel has rusted.”
Mr Johnson responded: “The overhead conductor system is showing early signs of deterioration because of the wet and corrosive environment in the Severn Tunnel. Network Rail have identified this early on and are addressing this matter prior to energisation of the electrification system.”
Mr Smith was unimpressed by the Transport Minister’s response.
He said: “This is hopeless. Anyone needing to get from South Wales to London has to put up with longer journeys and major disruption all because Network Rail failed to keep their kit in proper condition from the get-go.
“The new equipment has got to be safe to use from the start, so it beggars belief these problems weren’t picked up on sooner.”
A Network Rail spokeswoman restated the rail infrastructure owner’s explanation for the works, saying: “The Severn Tunnel and Patchway tunnels in Bristol are closed for three weeks so engineers can deliver essential modernisation and electrification work on the Mainline in Bristol and South Wales.”