Network Rail has undertaken a £1.3 million project to secure a railway cutting and protect the Settle to Carlisle line from landslips.

The work now means that journeys will be more reliable and safer for both passengers and freight.

The essential work was undertaken following storms earlier in the year, which saw trees coming down at Cumwhinton which is situated close to Carlisle.

Once on-site railway engineers quickly identified the cause as moving earth, which was presenting a risk of falling onto the railway.

The vital maintenance work was undertaken rapidly to make the land safe and saw stretches of sloping line-side re-profiled using new stone to create a more gradual slope that is also more stable. 

Movement of over 10,000m³ of earth was carried out during the protection work with 7,000m³ of brand new stone put in place.

Due to the steepness of the site specialised excavators were brought in to enable the work to be completed safely and efficiently.

During the project Network Rail also took the opportunity to improve drainage, which will mean that tracks don’t become flooded during extremely wet weather conditions.

The work was carried out between April and September 2021 and was organised carefully so that no delays to train services took place.

To find out more about how Network Rail handles projects like this, visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/earthworks-cutting-slopes-and-embankments

Olivia Boland, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to look after the beautiful Settle-Carlisle line.

“Our £1.3m investment to shore up the cutting in Cumwhinton means the line can continue to be enjoyed by locals and tourists, and provide a reliable route for freight trains transporting essential goods from A to B.”

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