Work under way to repair landslip by railway line

Trains are running at 20mph while engineers try to stabilise land besides the railway line near Woking

Urgent work is under way to prevent a "potentially dangerous" landslip along a main railway line in Surrey.

Network Rail said it follows the discovery of cracks of up to 45m (148ft) long and 1m (3ft) deep in places in a slope next to the railway near Woking.

Passengers were advised to avoid travelling due to the work between Woking and Basingstoke from Friday to Sunday.

Matt Pocock, the Wessex route director, said the work was "imperative" to prevent future disruption.

Network Rail said sensors in the ground detected movement in the 100m-long slope next to the St John’s Hill Road overbridge between Brookwood and Woking.

It was decided part of the railway would close between Wednesday 6 December to Sunday 10 December to stabilise the cutting and "prevent a more disruptive and potentially dangerous landslip".

The operator said the forecast of cold and wet weather would have made this "highly likely" if action was not taken.

Large cracks were found in the 100m-long slope next to the track

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Mr Pocock said engineers plan to install 170 steel piles.

"They are going to be driven into the ground about 8m (26ft) deep in order to create a wall of steel that will stabilise the bank and prevent any material from falling on the railway," he said.

Network Rail added it had introduced a 20mph speed limit to keep services running in the area.

Mr Pocock said the work was being undertaken during the least disruptive time for passengers.