Work continues on Somerset railway line after Crewkerne landslip

A tall crane which is essential to complete work and repair the landslip is in use today

Work is continuing on a railway line after a landslip disrupted services.

Engineers worked over the weekend to remove 300 tonnes of materials on the track near Crewkerne tunnel, Somerset.

But efforts to restore some of the line were hampered by strong winds, and the section between Yeovil Junction and Exeter St David's remains closed until Wednesday, Network Rail said.

Other planned engineering works have finished and the line between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction is back to normal.

This mean trains between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction are back to their usual timetable.

Reparation work has been hampered by strong winds

More than 90mm (9cm) of sustained heavy rain over 48 hours caused the landslip above the Crewkerne tunnel last week.

With bad weather continuing, it made it unsafe for engineers to use a tall crane essential to complete work and repair the landslip.

Network Rail is advising customers not to attempt to travel between Yeovil Junction and Exeter St David's before Wednesday and to continue to check for travel updates.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience caused by these essential works... [but] with the weather set to improve, we hope to be able to make good progress over the coming days," the spokesperson added.

Prior to the landslip, the West of England line was closed between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction from 25 November and 10 December for major planned engineering works.

The Crewkerne landslip on Monday extended that closure to Crewkerne, Network Rail said.

While the planned engineering works finished on time, the line remains closed from Yeovil Junction to Exeter St David's following the landslip.

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