Train services have resumed between Crewkerne and Exeter St Davids, following our successful emergency landslip repair in Axminster.
Engineers fixed a 20-metre stretch of embankment by building a retaining wall using large interlocking rocks, known as rock armour, at its base. This acts as a protective barrier, holding the slope in place and stopping the earth from moving any further.
The repair required 1,600 tonnes of stone to be transported from Poole to Axminster. Moving the material by rail, rather than road, reduced carbon emissions by 88%, with rail freight around eight times cleaner than using lorries and able to carry significantly larger volumes in a single journey.
Over the next week, engineers will continue to monitor the site for safety, with trains running over the impacted area at 5mph. Once it is determined that it is safe to run services through the area at line speed, the restriction will be lifted.
SWR and Network Rail would like to thank stakeholders and passengers for their patience while these repairs took place.
