Week-long track repairs after Scunthorpe landslip

Train passengers will be impacted by a week of changes and replacement buses when vital repairs begin on a landslip near Scunthorpe on Thursday.

The landslip was discovered last Friday between Scunthorpe and Althorpe during routine maintenance inspections. Network Rail teams have been on site monitoring the area so that a reduced passenger service could continue on one line.

Next, workers will stabilise the embankment between Thursday, June 18 and Thursday, June 25, by installing steel piles.

Network Rail said that incidents like this often happen when the ground becomes saturated with water after heavy rain, causing soil, rocks and earth to become loose and unstable.

Ballast moved following landslip. Photo: Network Rail

No train services will be able to run on this portion of the line during this time, meaning the following changes:

• Northern services will not run between Scunthorpe and Doncaster. Bus replacement services will be in place, calling at all stations on the line
• TransPennine Express services will continue between Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe and between Doncaster and Manchester Piccadilly. There will be rail replacement services in place between Scunthorpe and Doncaster

Network Rail will begin the repairs on June 18, 2020. Photo: Network Rail

Passengers needing to travel between Scunthorpe and Doncaster are being urged to check before they travel.

Network Rail has also reopened another line via Brigg for freight services to allow them to divert around the area. This means that they can continue transporting vital supplies such as food, medication and fuel across the country.

Impact of landslip on the railway embankment. Photo: Network Rail