Emergency Work on Embankment to Reopen Guildford to Effingham Line

Published on: 27 Dec, 2024
Updated on: 27 Dec, 2024

Emergency work over Christmas to stabilise an embankment in Clandon

Train services have resumed this morning (December 27) after Network Rail engineers successfully completed emergency repairs to an embankment in Clandon between Guildford and Effingham Junction.

Following ground movement being detected by tiny ground sensors buried into the embankment, the line was closed from Saturday, December 21, to allow engineers to safely undertake work to stabilise the embankment.

Over the past six days, Network Rail’s team of engineers have worked tirelessly to install 50 sheet piles – 8m long sheets of metal – to prevent any further movement in the ground.

The embankment will continue to be further strengthened with the installation of a 30m section of soil nails (steel rods) to help underpin the railway, which will be completed while trains are running. A speed restriction of 20mph will remain in place until further notice.

Tom McNamee, Network Rail’s Wessex route infrastructure director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we completed these emergency repairs.

“We’re acutely aware of the impact of closing this stretch of railway, however, the safety of our passengers and colleagues will always be our number one priority. I would also like to pay tribute to our engineers and teams on site who have had to forgo the festive celebrations this week in order to complete these emergency repairs and return the railway as quickly and safely as possible to our passengers.

“I recognise some of this work – particularly the piling – would have been noisy and disruptive to any local residents living nearby, whom I would also like to apologise to and thank them again for their understanding.”

A busy Christmas and Boxing Day

During the Christmas Day and Boxing Day closures, when no passenger trains are in service, Network Rail’s team of engineers was out in force across the Wessex route carrying out vital work to ensure the safe and reliable running of the railway.

Engineers renewed the ballast and sleepers beneath the tracks just outside London Waterloo station. These tracks make up the junctions that direct trains into the platforms at Waterloo, so it is crucial we keep them well maintained.

In Southampton, teams installed 12,000m of new cabling, providing a further 50 years of power to signalling equipment in the area. Teams also upgraded the level crossing on Mount Pleasant Road in Southampton and changed the signal heads on the gantry outside of Southampton tunnel, by Northam Road Bridge.

Between Farncombe and Petersfield, engineers installed piles and cabling cabinets in preparation for further upgrades while between Feltham and Whitton, old worn-out rail was replaced making for a smoother ride on the Windsor Lines.

Major work continues to upgrade the South West Main Line in the Woking area and also on the Lymington branch. Those projects are on track to be completed on Sunday 5 January, with normal running resuming on Monday 6 January.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “With no passenger trains running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, it gives us an invaluable opportunity to complete a wide range of improvement works on critical parts of our network, such as at London Waterloo and in Southampton.

“I am grateful to the dedication of our various teams for working through the festive period to make these vital improvements to our railway.”

An SWR spokesperson said: “We are very pleased to see the line between Effingham Junction and Guildford reopen, following the successful completion of this emergency engineering work.

“We’re very grateful for our customers’ continued patience over the Christmas and New Year period. With engineering work still taking place in the Brookwood area, through to Sunday, January 5, customers should continue to check before travelling.”

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