Work to stabilise part of the embankment on the Midland Main Line at Braybrooke is progressing well with engineers confident passenger services will be able to use the line tomorrow (Thursday 9 November).
Engineers have been working at the Braybrooke site since Thursday 2 November to strengthen part of the embankment so that trains can resume their normal route between Kettering, Market Harborough, and Leicester.
The repair involves installation of soil nails and netting which will then be tensioned to strengthen the affected area. Testing yesterday (7 November) revealed that the grout used to hold the nails in place is curing well. This means that maintenance teams can step-up their work to fully reinstate the track.
Yesterday, a tamping machine was run over the track to consolidate the ballast. This was carefully monitored to inform the work which will continue throughout today (8 November) and night before services resume their usual route on 9 November.
Gary Walsh, route director for Network Rail’s East Midlands route, said: “Engineers have made great progress at Braybrooke and we are confident that trains will be able to run along their usual route from start of service on Thursday.
“I am sorry for the disruption which passengers have experienced in recent days. This site is a complex one and we needed to be sure that the grout and other materials being used to stabilise the embankment were performing as expected before we could give clear information about when trains will start running again.
“Teams will remain on site and we will have monitoring in place for some time yet but, from Thursday, it will be safe for trains to run along their usual route.”
Image credit: Network Rail
