Network Rail's carrying out a major programme of work around Honiton Tunnel from Monday 19 to Friday 23 September. Buses will replace South Western Railway services between Axminster and Exeter St Davids for all five days. Engineers say the tunnel has suffered several landslips over recent years and needs to be stabilised so trains can continue to run safely.
Honiton Tunnel. Picture Network Rail
The tunnel sits in a steep railway cutting which, due to its history of landslips, has been identified as one of the highest risk cuttings on the Southern region. Over five days Network Rail will strengthen the cutting by installing king post walls on each side of the line. King Posts are isolated steel columns that are installed along the line of the proposed retaining wall typically at centres between 1 and 3m. The space between the posts is filled, over the retained height, using a variety of different solutions but most commonly a precast concrete panel. Two walls 32m and 16m long will be built which will help reduce earth movement and the risk of further landslips. Crews will also install a new drainage system to manage water that can impact on the stability of the cutting’s steep slopes and repair tunnel brickwork.
This is the first in a series of line closures on the West of England line and comes on top of a halving of through trains caused by drought damage. Over the next 18 months Network Rail says it will carry out a large amount of vital maintenance and upgrades on the West of England line between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids.
Templecombe Station
This includes major track renewals between Salisbury and Gillingham (Dorset) in November 2022; and an important upgrade to switches and crossings, which allow trains to change between tracks, in Templecombe, in November 2023.
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