Landslip Closes Portsmouth Line at Guildford for Five Hours

Published on: 20 Dec, 2019
Updated on: 21 Dec, 2019

A landslip at the southern end of St Catherine’s sand railway tunnel on the edge Guildford closed the line in both directions at around this morning (December 20). The line reopened around 4pm.

Landslip St Catherine’s Sand Tunnel – Photo SWR

The slip follows heavy rain over the last 24 hours falling on saturated ground.

According to SWR’s journey check webpage: ”We were informed of a landslip between Guildford and Godalming, this resulted in both lines being blocked.

Linesmen with shovels clearing the sand. Photo SWR

“The line has now been reopened and trains are running their scheduled routes. As trains pass through the area affected by the earlier landslip they will do so at a reduced speed of 5mph… We are very sorry for any delay that this may cause to your journey.”

Buses were laid on for passengers heading for Gatwick and railway tickets were made valid for local bus services.

The geology of the greensand St Catherine’s Hill has been a problem in the past and no one will claim ownership of the eastern half of the historic landmark hill, through which the railway tunnel was constructed in the 1850s, in case it leaves them responsible in an event such a today’s landslip.

The sandbank above the tunnel, facing the River Wey, is continuing to erode and attempts by a local residents’ association to stabilise the area were unsuccessful for want of funding.

In 1895 St Catherine’s railway tunnel collapsed. It is said to have been the result of a leaking water main that served a large Victorian house, The Beacon, that had been built on St Catherine’s Hill directly above.

St Catherine’s Tunnel Collapse March 23, 1895 (looking north) – Photo David Rose

According to Matthew Alexander’s book Guildford As It Was, “…an empty train running from Petersfield to Guildford was halfway through the tunnel… when it ran into a fall which blocked the north end. The leading carriages were damaged, and soon afterwards a second fall buried the engine.

“Above ground, subsidence had occurred…the [Beacon’s] coach house and stable collapsed into a hole 16 feet deep, killing two horses and destroying four carriages. The second fall toppled a summerhouse into the hole, where a thousand tons of sand had fallen into the tunnel below.”

It took 100 navvies eight days to clear the line.

Share This Post