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Monday 14 Dec 2020

Network Rail carries out major work in Whitby to keep trains running reliably and safely

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: North & East

Network Rail teams are on site in Whitby and carrying out vital work to a railway embankment in the seaside town to prevent a landslip and keep trains moving reliably and safely.

Over the past several months, Network Rail has been monitoring the embankment, which is on the west bank of the Esk and to the south of the A171 bridge, after minor movement was detected.  Network Rail are carrying out preventive work to stop this movement and to remove the risk of a landslip.

Landslips pose a safety risk to train services and cause major disruption to services, so it’s vital this work takes place now.

As part of the work, trees and plants have been cleared from the embankment. This is necessary as trees and their roots can cause movement which can lead to landslips. Teams have also removed impacted soil from the top half of the embankment, and this will be replaced with rock.

To allow the work to take place safely, a section of the Esk Valley Walk public footpath which passes through the caravan park has been closed. The footpath at the bottom of the embankment remains open. The work will not impact on train services.

Network Rail has been in touch with residents in the area to advise them of the work, which will complete before Christmas.

Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said: “Keeping passengers moving safely and reliably is our top priority, and carrying out this preventive work will enable us to keep doing that.

“The work will mean some short-term changes to a public footpath in the area, but we plan to have it back open as soon as possible."

ENDS