Hereford-to-Malvern rail line still closed after hole opened

Network Rail hopes the line can be reopened on Wednesday

Trains between Great Malvern and Hereford remain cancelled after a collapsed pipe caused a "very deep hole" on the line in Colwall.

Network Rail said it opened after heavy rain, next to another hole that emerged after a build-up of water in June.

A statement from Network Rail said it is hoped the line will reopen on Wednesday.

National Rail Enquiries said a limited bus service was running between Worcester Shrub Hill and Hereford.

Its website said First Great Western passengers could use Arriva Trains Wales services between Hereford and Newport, and London Midland services between Worcester Shrub Hill and Great Malvern.

In a statement, Network Rail said water flowing from a clay pipe had saturated the surrounding ground and a chamber had been dammed for the water to be pumped from it.

'Sewage across roads'

Engineers were planning to dig out the wet ground and install concrete sleepers as a new base before new ballast and track are installed.

Earlier in the year, surplus water after heavy rain caused another hole, leading to some rail services on the line being cancelled, Network Rail said.

Residents of Shenstone Close said the flooding had left sewage across the roads and driveways

A clean-up operation was under way in Malvern where sewage was left on the road after flash flooding hit the area on Monday.

Paula Carlisle, of nearby Shenstone Close, said workmen from Severn Trent had been spraying the street.

"When they came out and measured it the flood was eight inches and rising, it was enough to flood my neighbours house and also another neighbour's car," she said.

"We have been left with a lot of sewage across the pavements, driveway and road - it's pretty grim."

'Wettest places'

Ms Carlisle added some of her neighbours have lived there for 50 years and had never seen it so bad.

On Monday, the Met Office said on Twitter that in 24 hours, 64.6mm (2.5in) of rainfall had been recorded in Hereford, making it "one of the wettest places in the country".

A flood warning for the River Teme at Bransford in Worcestershire has been issued by the Environment Agency.

A warning for the River Teme at Stanford Bridge in Herefordshire is also in place.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to more than 40 flood-related incidents on Monday.