The SVR’s managing director, Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster explained more:
‘We are delighted with this decision by our insurers, which means we can now move ahead with fixing things. Nevertheless, the SVR is still going to be responsible for funding a substantial excess as part of the settlement.
‘We are still in negotiation with the insurers about the exact amount, but thanks to the generous donations that supporters have made to the SVR Resilience Fund and the SVR Charitable Trust since the landslip, we are confident that we will be able to cover this.
‘What’s important here is that our insurance company’s acceptance of the claim means we will not have to launch a full-scale appeal for the landslip repairs, which would have meant further delays before we could put things right.’
In conjunction with its insurers, the SVR has appointed civil engineering contractors CML to carry out all the works required at Mor Brook to reinstate the line. The railway’s infrastructure management and permanent way teams will be working with CML to provide logistical support and carry out work related to the track.
SVR head of infrastructure Chris Bond said:
‘Firstly, CML must carry out essential and detailed civil engineering design work. Over the next three to four weeks, our own permanent way team will remove track in preparation for the main contract works to commence.
‘Subject to statutory approvals from the Environment Agency and National Grid, we hope to start the main contract works within six to eight weeks.
‘Timescales are still subject to the production of a final programme of works, and we will provide an update on this in due course. Clearly, at this stage it is impossible to pin down a finish date. This will depend on many variables, such as the weather, procurement of materials and gaining statutory approvals. It is unlikely to be completed before the middle of the summer and it could be later, depending on these variables.’
