Cambrian Line reopens after major repairs

EXTENSIVE repairs to the Cambrian Main Line between Welshpool and Newtown have been completed, allowing the line to reopen to services from mid-morning on April 2.

After the storm damage in February, initially it was thought washout damage to the line was at 12 locations, but in fact this turned out to be 33 areas of damage in a half-mile stretch, meaning a far bigger repair job.

The washouts happened after the River Severn flooded, with the water rising 3.9 metres above the normal level – just 9cm lower than the highest ever recorded level.

It took 10 days for the river to fully recede before engineers could move in to repair the railway and it took engineers six weeks of 24/7 working in shifts alongside contractors AmcoGiffen to effect repairs.

The extensive repair work has included the removal of 3000 tonnes of debris, 4000 tonnes of new ballast being laid, three tamping shifts to realign and level the track,

800 metres of double track replaced, new hedgerows planted, clearing of 11 culverts and installation of new fencing and telecoms cables.

In mid-March, Network Rail announced an additional

£2m of emergency funding to install 5000 tonnes of rock armour alongside the repaired section of line to provide further protection from flood damage.