10,000 tonnes of ‘rock armour’ used as Cambrian Line between Welshpool and Newtown is protected from storms

Network Rail has completed a multi-million-pound project to make the Cambrian Line more resilient after three storms in February this year forced the line between Welshpool and Newtown to close for six weeks.

Working around the clock, engineers from Network Rail and AmcoGiffen repaired over a dozen washouts caused by unprecedented levels of flood water by installing10,000 tonnes of rock armour sourced from Cefn Mawr quarry in Flintshire along the banks of a half-mile stretch of the line.#

During the work, the railway remained fully open.

Rock armour is a tried and tested method to protect railway lines from extreme weather, and had already proved successful in reducing flooding elsewhere in Wales on the Conwy Valley line and near Abergavenny.

It prevents the ballast from washing away during extreme storms, and allows the railway to reopen following a harsh storm in days rather than weeks or months. It will also minimise future delays and disruption and make passengers' journeys more reliable in future.

In the next few months, Network Rail will return to plant short hedgerows in gaps along the railway boundary. They will not only help to stem the flow of flood waters in the future but also add to nature's corridors in the area.

Network Rail has also released footage of the rock armour being installed, and can be viewed below:

Nick Millington, interim route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “It's hard to remember how devastating those February storms were, after the record-breaking temperatures this summer, but we're always planning ahead to the next extreme weather event, making sure we are prioritising investments that will make our railway more resilient.

“The Cambrian Line is a hugely important rail link for the communities it serves, and I am delighted it's now better protected from the impacts of climate change so we can continue to provide a safe and reliable railway for many years to come.”

Chris Howchin, programme manager at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to our teams at Network Rail and AmcoGiffen who've worked tirelessly in recent months not only to repair the line, but to make it more resilient, which will help prevent long delays and disruption for passengers in future.

“I would like to thank passengers and the communities we serve along the line for their patience as this significant investment was delivered.”

Colin Lea, Transport for Wales' Planning and Performance Director, said: “We welcome this investment by Network Rail in making the Cambrian Line safer and more resilient. The work to prevent damage and disruption from flooding will help secure the future of this important route, which provides a vital link for communities in North and Mid Wales.

“We would like to thank the teams who have been working around the clock on-site over recent weeks in difficult conditions.”

Andy Crowley, Operations Director, AmcoGiffen, said: “We're glad we were able to quickly and safely repair the damage caused by the storms in February and, crucially, take further steps to prevent another washout over the coming winter.

“The work we've just completed at Welshpool means customers will experience better journeys, at a time when reliable public transport is needed more than ever.”