Giant icicles which have been edging towards the overhead power lines on the mainline this week, and today, it led to passengers being diverted.

Some trains on the West Coast mainline were today diverted around the Kilsby tunnel in Northamptonshire for an hour to enable engineers to set about the task of removing the giant icicles from the tunnel roof.

Train services booked via Weedon were routed via Northampton between 0930 and 1030 today before the tunnel reopened.

The five-mile-long Kilsby tunnel, which is located east of Rugby, opened in 1838 as part of the London and Birmingham Railway.

What did the officials say?

Caroline Higgins, senior incident officer for Network Rail’s London North Western route, said: “It’s not just snow we are dealing with. We also face challenges from ice. Our engineers needed safe access to the tunnel to remove the icicles so they no longer posed a risk of damaging trains and overhead power lines.

“This is one of many challenges thrown up by the ‘Beast from the East’ and Storm Emma. Our engineers are doing their utmost to keep Britain moving despite the snow and ice.”

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