Network Rail says it has invested £41m in major earthworks across the North West to reduce the risk of landslips and embankment failures during the winter.
The infrastructure manager said the work, completed over the past year, covered exposed sections of railway from the Peak District to Cumbria. Measures included drainage improvements, land regrading, soil nails, rock anchors and protective netting.
Key schemes
Among the largest projects were an £11.5m programme of drainage and earth stabilisation at Shale Cutting on the Settle to Carlisle route, and £9.5m of embankment upgrades between New Mills and Hague Bar in Derbyshire.
Network Rail also installed rock netting and anchors at Shap on the West Coast Main Line in Cumbria in a £2m scheme.
The works have been prioritised ahead of a winter forecast to be particularly stormy because of the El Niño climate phenomenon, according to Network Rail.
Rob Stephens, Network Rail North West Route engineering director, said the projects were intended to prevent disruption on exposed and remote parts of the railway.
“We’re no stranger to storms in the North West – especially in the winter – and these multi-million-pound projects have been prioritised to prevent disruption for passengers on some of our most exposed and remote sections of railway.
“Alongside this our teams right across the network have also been out clearing drains, cutting back overgrown trees and thoroughly checking our infrastructure in recent months to pre-empt and prevent problems before they happen. By doing so we’re best prepared for weather extremes – which are becoming more frequent and ferocious – so we can react and recover quickly to keep passengers and freight moving safely.”