Network Rail and newly awarded contractor, AmcoGiffen, will begin working round the clock on the Severn Estuary line between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire to improve resilience from Monday 31 July to Friday 18 August.
QTS will be working on behalf of AmcoGiffen to deliver specialist IRATA rope access works throughout this period.
Engineers will be working on a one-mile-stretch of railway, close to Purton, and will remove around 1,000 tonnes of stockpiled material from the cliff face.
QTS IRATA operatives will then begin to install an ‘active’ mesh system covering 19,500m2 secured by more than 5,000 rock bolts. This system will hold the cliff face in position and help to prevent landslips from damaging and subsequently closing the railway.
During this work, the line will be temporarily closed so Network Rail and AmcoGiffen can carry out this work safely and efficiently.
Transport for Wales and CrossCountry trains will be affected and a rail replacement service will be put in place.
Transport for Wales will replace trains with buses calling at all stations:
- Between Severn Tunnel Junction and Gloucester from Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August – this is due to work being carried out on Chepstow viaduct
- Between Chepstow and Gloucester from Sunday 6 to Friday 11 August and Monday 14 to Thursday 17 August
- Weekend train timetables are due to operate on Saturday 5 August and on Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 August
Network Rail urges passengers to visit tfw.wales for more information.
CrossCountry will replace all trains with buses between Newport and Gloucester, calling at all stations:
- Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August
- Sunday 6 to Friday 11 August
- Monday 14 to Thursday 17 August
- Weekend train timetables are due to operate on Saturday 5 August and on Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 August
Network Rail urges passengers to visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk/Lydney-2023 for more information.
”The line between Newport and Gloucester is particularly vulnerable to landslips due to its exposed location along the Severn Estuary.
We are seeing more frequent extreme weather events as a result of climate change, which is why we are prioritising resilience projects like this, to protect vital passenger and freight links in the Wales and Borders route.
This investment will ensure fewer closures and speed restrictions in the future, providing passengers and freight customers with a more reliable service.
I’d just like to thank everyone for their patience while we safely carry out this essential work.
Nick Millingtonroute director for Network Rail Wales & Borders
”Climate change continues to be an industry and global challenge and this next phase of work on the Severn Estuary will enhance the resilience of this important route.
AmcoGiffen is looking forward to carrying out this work on behalf of Network Rail. We will be utilising the specialist capabilities of our sister company, QTS, and its IRATA operatives and innovative plant fleet, to complete the work safely and quickly to re-open the line for passengers and freight.
Andy CrowleyOperation Director, AmcoGiffen
”We’re pleased to be able to offer our expertise to assist AmcoGiffen and Network Rail through the duration of these works. As well as deploying our specialist rope access team, we will also be utilising our bespoke wheeled drill rigs, which have been designed to specifically assist on this project.
We are looking forward to getting on site to deliver the works quickly and efficiently so as to minimise disruption to the public and to freight.
Gary BurnettOperations Director for QTS
