Network Rail has announced that emergency repair work on the railway between Dumfries and Kilmarnock, due to a landslip, will continue for a further four weeks.
The section of the line has been closed since Monday, 10th February 2020, after the Storm Ciara caused the River Nith to erode an embankment beneath the railway.
Following examination of the landslip by engineers, the line is now expected to reopen for start of service on Monday, 16th March.
Engineers are currently working to repair the 1,700-ton landslip beneath a 50m stretch of track near Holywood.
Engineers will first need to construct a new road to bring materials in and then can start the process of rebuilding the embankment.
To keep passengers moving, ScotRail services will continue to run between Dumfries and Carlisle and between Kilmarnock and Glasgow, with a replacement bus operating between Dumfries and Kilmarnock.
Passengers with ScotRail tickets may travel on Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express services between Carlisle and Glasgow Central, via Lockerbie.
Have you been affected by the landslip near Dumfries? Let us know in the comments below.
What did the officials say?
A Network Rail spokesperson said:
“Our engineers are working hard to reopen the line as quickly as possible for customers.
“Storm Ciara has caused significant damage beneath the track and we will need to rebuild the track-bed and supporting embankment before we can reopen the line.
“The landslip is located in a challenging location above the river and will also require our engineers to construct a haul road to bring equipment and materials to the site.”
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Responses
With Lockerbie railway station in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway (county), Scotland. Why is it managed by Abellio ScotRail as they don’t allow their trains to stop at Lockerbie but Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express trains do stop at Lockerbie (sometimes).
Could Avanti West Coast or TransPennine Express may manage Lockerbie station in the future. Or will ScotRail operate a Glasgow Central-Carlisle service that will allow their trains to stop at Lockerbie.