Somerset landslip closes Exeter to Salisbury rail line
The closure will be in place until at least Monday 11th December
We're being warned about disruption on the trains between Exeter and Salisbury after a large landslip at the Crewkerne Tunnel in Somerset.
A closure of the line will be in effect until at least Monday 11th December, so engineers can work to clear the debris.
Over the coming days, Network Rail say team of engineers "will work around the clock" to excavate around 100 tonnes of clay, soil and vegetation from around the tunnel entrance to help stabilise the cutting.
It means SWR will be unable to run services between Salisbury and Exeter St David's and is urging passengers to not travel on this route, particularly as severe flooding continues to impact planned rail replacement bus services.
Matt Pocock, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “I would like to say how sorry we are for the disruption passengers are experiencing following a landslip at Crewkerne tunnel.
“We’ve experienced over 90mm of sustained heavy rain over the past 48 hours and this has resulted in movement in the earth on the cutting above the tunnel entrance which, if action isn’t taken, could spill over onto the tracks and risk the safety of passenger services."
ASLEF strike action takes place on the SWR network on Wednesday 6 December, with an extremely limited service running on a small number of lines, and no services running all day west of Salisbury.