When 90mm of rain fell within 48 hours causing a landslip and severe flooding at the Crewkerne tunnel cutting on the West of England line, resulting in the closure of the line between Salisbury and Exeter. Our One Team Wessex colleagues quickly stepped into action and mobilised on site to stabilise the cutting. 350 tonnes of clay, soil, and vegetation around the tunnel entrance was removed and over 400 tonnes of slipped material above the tunnel portal was cleared in just 8 days.
Our team quickly assembled a specialist supply chain team, which included design, groundwork, track monitoring, and rope access subcontractors. They imported over 1500 tonnes of material to construct temporary roads and access platforms and to help complete this significant task efficiently utilised a large array of different plant and equipment.
Working tirelessly around the clock for over 8 days, the team accomplished the challenging task without a single accident or incident, ensuring the safe reopening of the line.
Enormous congratulations and thank you to our One Team Wessex, including our supply chain for safely and successfully completing the cutting stabilisation works and your commitment to reopening the line as quickly and as safely as possible for passengers ahead of the Christmas period.
Thank you all for giving up your time with very little notice to ensure that we could get passengers moving as quickly as possible. We are hugely grateful to you all for your dedication and for keeping the railways safely running for passengers.
