Work has begun on a £4.4m project to install rock armour alongside a stretch of the Cambrian Line to make it more resilient and reliable for passengers.

In February this year, the Cambrian line between Welshpool and Newtown was closed for several weeks after Storm Franklin and two other storms led to half a mile of severe damage on the railway caused by unprecedented levels of flood water. Network Rail and AmcoGiffen engineers worked night and day to fix about  dozen areas of washouts.

After the floods, Network Rail shared the news that Rock Armour was to be installed.

To minimise future disruption and delays, Network Rail has begun installing 9,500 tonnes of rock armour along the bank of the railway. The same concept has proved to be a huge success on a flood-prone stretch of railway in the Conwy Valley and another near Abergavenny.

Rock armour is a reliable resilience method that prevents track ballast from washing away during extreme weather, allowing the railway to reopen in days, rather than weeks. To minimise disruption to passengers, the railway will remain open while the resilience work is being carried out; completion is planned for the Autumn.

During the last few months, a temporary access road has been constructed, so that boulders sourced from Cefn Mawr quarry in Flintshire can be transported to the work site.

Network Rail has worked closely with Natural Resources Wales to develop an approach for carrying out the work on a flood plain so that local wildlife is protected.

Hedgerows are being planted in the gaps along the railway to prevent flooding and provide a perfect habitat for nesting birds and small mammals. Enhanced protection has also been given to century-old Redwood trees that are growing next to the railway, with special matting laid down to safeguard their roots.

Dave Smale, head of maintenance delivery at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “I’m delighted this resilience project has been able to get underway so quickly following those devastating February storms.

“The Cambrian line is a vital link for the communities it serves, and we simply must protect its future from the impact of climate change.

“This £4.4m investment will allow us to continue providing a safe, reliable, and resilient railway for many years to come.”

Jan Chaudhry van der Velde, Transport for Wales Managing Director, said: “We welcome this resilience investment by Network Rail which will help protect the railway from storms and flooding so we can keep services running in Mid Wales.

“The Cambrian Line has a bright future as it is also benefitting from the introduction of new Class 197 trains as part of our £800m investment in new rolling stock throughout the Wales and Borders network.”