Network Rail have released images taken from a drone that shows work to secure a railway embankment in Warwickshire.

A £3.5m investment by Network Rail is strengthening the embankment after repeated landslips at Hopsford, which have caused delays to passengers travelling between Nuneaton and Rugby.

The section of the railway was built in the 1850s and runs alongside the Oxford Canal, the drone images, taken by contractor Murphy, show some of the work being carried out.

The work along the 1km embankment includes rebuilding 300m of it along with building a 100m long retaining wall.

Drainage will also be improved along the 1km long section.

Work on the railway embankment started in October last year and should be completed by late spring 2021.

Network Rail have a page dedicated to how they manage railway cuttings and embankments over on their website

James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “When navvies built this section of railway over 170 years ago it was an amazing feat of engineering. However, they didn’t have the know-how and technology we do now, and it’s time we fix the problems of the past.”

“This essential investment to strengthen this embankment at Hopsford Hall will make the West Coast main line more reliable for the future and is all part of our commitment to build back better as the country emerges from the pandemic.”

Tim Shakerley, Freightliner’s European Engineering & Operations Services director, said: “The West Coast main line between Nuneaton and Rugby is a core artery for Freightliner services. Intermodal services from ports at Southampton, Felixstowe and London Gateway utilise it to access inland terminals in the North West and Scotland, whilst bulk deliveries from the Peak District move aggregate and cement South. We welcome Network Rail’s investment in the infrastructure which will allow us to continue to provide high performing, low carbon sustainable services to our customers”

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