The line between Norwich and Lowestoft is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Saturday, 5 February, following extensive repairs to the track bed.
On Sunday, 30 January, high tides combined with a surge caused by high winds caused part of the original embankment and the ballast, the stones that support the tracks, to be washed away at Haddiscoe on the Norwich to Lowestoft line.
The 7.25 am Greater Anglia service from Lowestoft to Norwich became stuck at Haddiscoe after floodwater from the River Yare flowed onto the track and a pothole opened under the ballast.
Six passengers were taken off the train to be moved to a safer place, but as that stretch of track was away from stations and roads passengers were left stranded for almost an hour.
No one was injured, all passengers on the train were taken away safely and the train was not derailed.
The 8.17 am service from Great Yarmouth to Norwich made a diversion to pick up the six stranded passengers from Reedham and continued with its journey to Norwich.
During the closure rail replacement bus services operated between Norwich and Lowestoft, calling at Oulton Broad North only., but passengers travelling to other intermediate stations had to make their own alternative travel arrangements.
After the train was removed, engineering teams worked around the clock to rebuild the tracks. Up to 500 tonnes of rock and ballast were used to reinstate the embankment under the track bed to replace the original material that was washed away.
There is a further storm warning for this evening and Network Rail will monitor any impact of this on the work being carried out. Further updates will be provided if this affects the reopening of the line.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Work has progressed well on site and we plan to reopen the line on Saturday morning. We are aware of further adverse weather conditions on Friday night, so we ask that passengers continue to check for updates before planning their journeys.”
A Greater Anglia spokesperson said: “We would like to thank customers for their patience this week while the work has been carried out. Rail replacement buses will continue to run until the line reopens so passengers can complete their journeys.”
Passengers are advised to check alternative travel arrangements at https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/service-disruptions/flooding-in-haddiscoe-area-please-do-not-travel-0
Perhaps build a defence alongside the railway line to stop further trackbed from subsiding from the river next to the railway line.