Network Rail has announced that a fix will allow the railway line between Salisbury and Romsey to reopen to passenger trains by the end of March.

Engineers have been assessing the damage after a landslip near to Salisbury on 18 February.

Following rainfall and flooding, the embankment slipped, leaving the track unsupported over 20 metres. This caused the track to dip and meant that trains could not run safely.

Since the incident, investigations and surveys have been carried out to understand how best to repair the line.

Engineers will use specialist equipment to install 160 metres of 13-metre deep steel sheets which will be driven into each side of the embankment. Following this, engineers will then drill under the track and tie both sides together with steel rods to support the embankment.

Once the flood water has subsided and the embankment is accessible through the field, the full repair will be delivered.

What did the officials say?

Mark Killick, route director for Network Rail Wessex, said:

“This landslip is a serious challenge and has been complicated by significant flooding of the field next to the embankment.

“Our absolute priority is to safely reopen the line for passengers and I can now confirm that engineers have devised an interim solution that will see the line re-opened by the end of March. I’d like to thank passengers for their continued patience while the line is closed.”

Christian Neill, Deputy Director of Customer Experience at South Western Railway, said:

“We’re pleased Network Rail are making progress repairing the embankment, and are working closely with them to ensure services return back to normal as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, we’re operating train services from Romsey to Southampton via Chandlers Ford and Millbrook, which connect with bus replacement services between Romsey and Salisbury via Mottisfont & Dunbridge & Dean, until the lines fully reopen.

“We thank passengers for their patience, and are sorry for the continued disruption to their journeys.”

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