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Tag: Grange-over-Sands;

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Furness Line to Open Next Week

Westmorland & Furness Council have advised that plans are well underway to reopen the Furness Line and resume services on Monday 22 April 2024. The timetable schedules should be loaded into the systems very shortly.

They are aware that It’s been a long and challenging few weeks and are aware how hard the closure of the line has hit local communities. Many people have shared their experiences and concerns, which have contributed to improved rail replacement services and customer information provision. However, they are aware the overall response to the situation could have been managed more effectively. They will be continuing conversations with rail industry colleagues to seek assurances that future incidents will be dealt with more efficiently and with relevant customer care.

Network Rail have issued the following press release:

‘Network Rail engineers have successfully repaired the embankment as part of a complex operation to recover the railway after a train derailed in Grange-over-Sands on Friday 22 March 2024. The next step is to re-lay the ballast (railway stones) and track before services can run again. Engineers confirm the work is on track to be completed next week.’

‘The derailment involved a Northern train coming off the tracks. A void in the ground was found around 150m away from the train. The team have been working around the clock to repair the damage as efficiently as possible. A specialist crane was brought in to rerail and remove the train from the site of the derailment. With the train safely removed, engineers could start to repair the railway. A variety of methods were used to carry out a thorough investigation into the ground conditions at the site, while also carrying out complicated repairs in the challenging environment.’

Passengers are advised to visit northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates for the latest travel advice.

The train seen from above with Morecambe Bay and Grange in the background (Image: Network Rail)

Northern Train Derails Near Grange-Over-Sands

A Northern service from Preston to Barrow derailed on the approach to Grange station early on Friday, March 22nd. Four passengers and four members of staff were safely evacuated from the train.

Network Rail is advising passengers that the route will be closed while the investigation, train recovery and repair work is complete. Initial investigations suggest this could take two weeks.

Around 150m away from the derailment location, a void in the ground has opened. Network Rail is working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to determine the cause of the void and the train derailment. Once the RAIB have completed their initial investigation, Network Rail will begin the complex recovery process. This will involve using a specialist Network Rail crane to re-rail and remove the train, carrying out repairs to the ground, installing new ballast (railway stones) and laying new track over the affected area.

Chris Pye from Network Rail said: “On the rare occasions trains leave tracks like this it can cause extensive damage and unfortunately this incident is no exception. The additional problem with the ground conditions means this is an especially complicated recovery process. I understand this will be extremely frustrating for passengers travelling between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness. Across the rail industry we’re working hard to keep people on the move through rail replacement buses while we work as fast as we can to restore the railway for passengers and freight.”

The closure will not significantly affect the timetable over the Easter bank holiday due to preplanned work in the area. From Monday 25th March, train services will run between Carlisle and Barrow on the Cumbrian coast line. Bus replacement services will be in operation between Barrow and Lancaster while the recovery of the train and repair work takes place at Grange. They will call at Lancaster, Carnforth, Silverdale, Arnside Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank, Cark, Ulverston, Dalton, Roose and Barrow -In-Furness.

Disruption is expected to last some time, so customers should make alternative arrangements wherever possible. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience and delay. Customers can always speak to a member of our team at their local station or visit northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates for the latest information.

Image Courtesy of Network Rail

Plans to build a traffic free link between Grange and Arnside are set to take a step forward.

Members of the South Lakeland locality board for Westmorland and Furness Council are set to recommend £99,999 from the local sustainable travel and transport fund goes towards the project to adapt the Arnside viaduct to enable walkers and cyclists to cross the Kent Estuary.

A report from Morecambe Bay Partnership says: “The proposed construction of a 5.5km raised boardwalk along the railway embankment and a cantilevered bridge over the viaduct creates a new leisure space that also limits the current harmful encroachment by people and dogs onto the highly sensitive saltmarsh. The enclosed trail route can play an important part in reducing bird disturbance and preventing damage to sensitive flora and fauna. These are all factors of concern locally to us and our partners Natural England and RSPB who are tackling this problem.”

“We believe the trail provides an opportunity to bring people closer to nature and educate them to care about the special environment and wildlife of the Bay.”

According to the report, feedback for the proposed scheme was ‘incredibly positive’ with 99.6% of the 6,000 respondents to the consultation supporting the proposal.

If the funding is granted, the partnership intends to progress the Arnside to Grange trail scheme to outline business case (OBC) status which is the planning phase of the project and acts as the final technical assessment stage prior to the initiation of scheme procurement.

The partnership will commission consultants to provide the technical engineering, environmental, active travel planning and place making expertise to achieve support for the scheme which provides a ‘compelling’ case for construction funding.

Members of the South Lakeland locality board for Westmorland and Furness Council are set to recommend the funding for the project on January 25 at Kendal Town Hall.