Severn Valley closed for major infrastructure works
THE Severn Valley Railway is extending the closed period this year until April 2, when it starts the season with weekend running rather than at the usual halfterm holiday in February.
Two major projects are to take place during this extended shutdown, with the replacement of the footbridge at Kidderminster and rebuilding of the line at Sterns, which has caused problems for many years.
Sterns is located between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth, near milepost 147 at the foot of Eardington Bank, where Mor Brook meets the River Severn as it turns 90 degrees within 100 yards from the trackbed – which occasionally slips due to excessive rain running into the river.
This location is notorious for its instability and has caused many problems over the years. During the winter of 1976/77, intense cold followed by heavy rain resulted in the line dropping 2ft 6in and moving 4ft nearer the river. In 1994/5, 10ft of riverbank washed away below the line and 3000 tons of rock were deposited on the river bank as a temporary measure to protect the bottom of the embankment from further erosion.
Further slips occurred in 2007 and a 150ft-long piled concrete retaining wall was built alongside Sterns Cottage. In February 2014, further subsidence was taking place when a dip in the line appeared; a ‘stop and proceed with caution’ restriction was imposed until repairs were completed in the following months.
After extensive flooding in February 2020 when Bewdley was severely hit, further land movements occurred, and comprehensive drainage works funded by £120,000 from the SVR Charitable Trust were carried out to help clear rainwater away from the line.
Continuous monitoring has taken place, and the spot has been upgraded with electronic ‘tilt monitoring’ equipment in February 2021, identical to that in use on the national network. Sensors are attached to sleepers that feed back to a central solar-powered unit at the trackside; should a slip occur, a message is sent to alert staff on the day.
As an additional measure, red stop lights are located at each end to warn train crews. A similar system is monitoring the line at Alveley Woods. At Sterns, a 5mph speed restriction applies to the complete train over this section but makes it difficult for trains to get a run at Eardington Bank. The rails, sleepers and ballast are to be removed over 40 yards, using contractor Walsh Construction, working with the SVR permanent way team.
Successive corrective packing over several years has created a deep pocket of heavy ballast, a situation which is exacerbating the problem of slippage. The ballast and an amount of the sub-base presently supporting the line will be removed, geotextile membranes will be fitted, keeping the different layers of soil separate and allowing water to percolate down, and a lightweight aggregate will be installed, reducing the weight by about 50%, which will reduce landslips. All ballast, rails and sleepers will be reused.
Works will commence on January 17 and should be completed by the first week of February, weather permitting. The tamper is booked to complete the works on March 14. The approximate £80,000 costs of the work at Sterns is again being funded by the trust.
The second major project being undertaken is the replacement of the deteriorating footbridge crossing Network Rail’s Kidderminster to Worcester main line and the SVR lines at the throat of Kidderminster station.
This footbridge is a public right of way between Hoo Road, behind Kidderminster Harriers FC and the A449 Chester Road South, and provides wonderful views of trains departing Kidderminster, and over the diesel depot, carriage shed, turntable and yard.
The design will be a singlespan extended by five metres and constructed in ‘weathering steel’ with new abutments at each end. All traces of the existing bridge will disappear, including the central brick pier.
The new abutment on the western side of the SVR will be repositioned 4.5m further away from the running lines. It has always been a pinch point, and the new abutment will allow permanent road vehicle access in the yard. Alterations to track will take place only if a section of the footbridge is reusable: the footbridgeembankment must be bridged for direct access onto the turntable
Story Contracting is carrying out the work on behalf of Network Rail.
The last steam passenger service arrived in Kidderminster on January 3 behind GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714; leaving the stock in the station it ran light engine to Bridgnorth shed. Class 17 Clayton D8568 returned empty stock from Bridgnorth into Kidderminster station. The following day, final shunting took place of all stock for the winter shutdown period.
A timescale and plans were then enacted, including an absolute possession of all running lines between the signal gantry and the platforms, engine line and exchange signals. With all signals were set at stop, no shunting movements took place. Stop notices and sleepers were placed across the lines either side of the works. The works were due to start on January 7, but plans were thrown into disarray by an unexpected delay of the bridge removal despite the preparations. This could impact on the arrival of No. 70000 Britannia for testing (story opposite), as it would need to run through the site. All works must finish by the end of March for regular services to begin on April 2.