Closure of Bransty Tunnel (near Whitehaven) expected until further notice

[GRALISTAIR]

I suspect it’s the source that is the ‘mystery’, not the contents of the liquid, which could be easily determined in a few days via lab testing which I assume they will have done early on. Again, poor wording in the article.

A few minutes in my lab. X Ray fluorescence or Atomic Absorption spectroscopy would give an answer very quickly indeed.

 

[snowball]

The Rio Tinto in Spain gets its name from the colour of its water as it flows through a region of interesting mineral deposits.

Presumably also the Colorado in the USA.

 

[P156KWJ]

Those who use the Cumbrian Coast line may already be aware some Engineering Works overran at the weekend, with an extra couple of days being allowed for further work to be carried out.

A reliable source of information says that this investigatory work has now concluded, and Whitehaven Tunnel is now unsuitable for rail traffic due to severe voids and poor rock formation.

At this early stage, a timescale of 2-3 months has been given for remedial work to be carried out before trains can run again.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Currently nothing running between Workington and Sellafield. Rail replacement buses operating today between these two stations.

 

[HSTEd]

Is this the tunnel that has been (somewhat famously) draining discoloured water into the harbour for years?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is this the tunnel that has been (somewhat famously) draining discoloured water into the harbour for years?

Yes, believe so. Been draining orangey-brown coloured water into Whitehaven Harbour via a drainage culvert since November 2022. Iron ochre is thought to be the likely contaminant in the area.

 

[Freightmaster]

Yes, believe so. Been draining orangey-brown coloured water into Whitehaven Harbour via a drainage culvert since November 2022. Iron ochre is thought to be the likely contaminant in the area.

Some more info here:

Future disruption on the Cumbria Coast route.

As some of you know this has been an ongoing issue recently. The article also says that what is proposed may only be a temporary fix. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c89yl45jpeko A rail line is to close and its tracks replaced to try and solve a long-running issue with brown and orange...

www.railforums.co.uk

MARK

 

[Cowley]

Just to provide an update. The line was closed last weekend for prep work prior to a three week closure in September, but the engineering works are overrunning

Incident: Sellafield | National Rail

Buses replace trains between Corkickle and Whitehaven . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Overrunning engineering works between St Bees and Parton means all lines are blocked. As a result, buses will replace trains between Sellafield and Workington.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day on Friday 1 August.

Customer advice:

Replacement buses are currently running between Sellafield and Workington.

Please see station information posters for the location of bus pick up points.

Journey times may be extended by up to 60 minutes whilst travelling by road transport.

Train services between Lancaster / Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle will terminate at Sellafield and restart between Workington and Carlisle.

 

[P156KWJ]

Just to provide an update. The line was closed last weekend for prep work prior to a three week closure in September, but the engineering works are overrunning

Incident: Sellafield | National Rail

Buses replace trains between Corkickle and Whitehaven . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Far further than tomorrow for bustitution now

Whitehaven Tunnel closed for 2-3 months

Those who use the Cumbrian Coast line may already be aware some Engineering Works overran at the weekend, with an extra couple of days being allowed for further work to be carried out. A reliable source of information says that this investigatory work has now concluded, and Whitehaven Tunnel is...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[rf_ioliver]

Well it can't be from Sellafield, the water is not green and glowing

I would be more worried if it were Peckham Springs.....

 

[Starmill]

I see Network Rail have posted a press release:

Surveys result in closure of railway between Whitehaven and Corkicle

Cumbrian Coast Line passengers are being advised the railway between Whitehaven and Corkicle will remain closed after recent surveys.

Network Rail has been working inside Bransty Tunnel for the last five days carrying out assessments ahead of a full track and drainage renewal in August and September.

It involved doing tests to assess any weight limits needed for the heavy plant and machinery needed for the planned renewals.

However, those tests have uncovered some areas under the railway which need strengthening before any work can progress.

Surveys result in closure of railway between Whitehaven and Corkicle

Cumbrian Coast Line passengers are being advised the railway between Whitehaven and Corkicle will remain closed after recent surveys.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[skyhigh]

Northern JourneyCheck is now advising that disruption is expected until November.

 

[HSTEd]

Discoloured water flowing out of the tunnel drainage system and now talk of voids and poor rock formations certainly paints a picture.
Not a particularly optimistic picture at that.

 

[yorksrob]

Given how long the blockade is likely to be, you'd hope that they'll be able to get a bit closer than Workington and Sellafield (particularly given that Whitehaven itself has a bay platform from the North).

Could they get trains from the South as near as Corkickle ?

 

[King Lazy]

Should be easy enough to do in theory. They’d just have to change ends and return to St Bees.

Likewise Whitehaven would be useable on both bay and through platform as there is a signal before the tunnel.

But, there may be an issue in that the engineers may need access to the tunnel with large equipment which could rule out Corkickle and Whitehaven through platform depending on the possession limits.

And I’m not sure a risk assessment would be happy with just a signal preventing a train entering the tunnel while work is ongoing. Perhaps like when the Kent Viaduct was done a temporary buffer could be provided as happened at Arnside but that job had a much longer planning time.

Sellafield has a fully bi-directionally signalled platform which makes it ideal for terminating. St Bees doesn’t but a temporary method of work should be possible to put in. And if replacement transport is used Sellafield is likely better set up for numerous buses/coaches.

I’d imagine Sellafield and Workington have been used up to now to aid diagramming as Workington is the traincrew base and as it’s easy to terminate at Sellafield due to the signalling. Even a 20 min run to Whitehaven and 20 mins back plus turnaround could mess with a Traincrew diagram and breaks.

But now it’s known it’s going to be a bigger job perhaps planning for a longer issue could be easier depending on the possession limits and complexity of the tunnel work?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder if it's just for now because that works best with the unit and crew diagrams?

 

[yorksrob]

Should be easy enough to do in theory. They’d just have to change ends and return to St Bees.

Likewise Whitehaven would be useable on both bay and through platform as there is a signal before the tunnel.

But, there may be an issue in that the engineers may need access to the tunnel with large equipment which could rule out Corkickle and Whitehaven through platform depending on the possession limits.

And I’m not sure a risk assessment would be happy with just a signal preventing a train entering the tunnel while work is ongoing. Perhaps like when the Kent Viaduct was done a temporary buffer could be provided as happened at Arnside but that job had a much longer planning time.

Sellafield has a fully bi-directionally signalled platform which makes it ideal for terminating. St Bees doesn’t but a temporary method of work should be possible to put in. And if replacement transport is used Sellafield is likely better set up for numerous buses/coaches.

I’d imagine Sellafield and Workington have been used up to now to aid diagramming as Workington is the traincrew base and as it’s easy to terminate at Sellafield due to the signalling. Even a 20 min run to Whitehaven and 20 mins back plus turnaround could mess with a Traincrew diagram and breaks.

But now it’s known it’s going to be a bigger job perhaps planning for a longer issue could be easier depending on the possession limits and complexity of the tunnel work?

Yes, St Bees to Whitehaven would probably be the next best option in that case, with temporary buffers protecting the Whitehaven end. At least they've got time to plan it well.

 

[skyhigh]

The platforms at Whitehaven are blocked due to access needed to get to the tunnel affected, therefore the station will be within the working possession.

https://x.com/northernassist/status/1950468531222454535

No idea if it's possible to shorten the possession, but that's the current reason why Whitehaven can't be used.

 

[Straus]

Looking at maps available through the mining remediation authority it appears there are several coal seams intersecting the tunnel beneath ground - there was extensive working in the area, I'd assume it's a collapsed historic mine. If so, 3 months is a very optimistic turnaround.

 

[The Planner]

https://x.com/northernassist/status/1950468531222454535

No idea if it's possible to shorten the possession, but that's the current reason why Whitehaven can't be used.

You clearly cannot use BY4 which is at the tunnel mouth at Whitehaven as protection as its too close. Next signal back is prior to the station, the bay would be too close as well to use for that reason.

 

[Watershed]

You clearly cannot use BY4 which is at the tunnel mouth at Whitehaven as protection as its too close. Next signal back is prior to the station, the bay would be too close as well to use for that reason.

That doesn't make sense, why couldn't the points be clipped and scotched in the direction of the bay?

 

[The Planner]

That doesn't make sense, why couldn't the points be clipped and scotched in the direction of the bay?

Still too close to the possession limits. It will have been risked assessed and I would imagine Northern have asked the same questions. You are assuming there won't be any engineering trains sat outside, as they would come from Kingmoor as a SCO depot.

 

[yorksrob]

Still too close to the possession limits. It will have been risked assessed and I would imagine Northern have asked the same questions. You are assuming there won't be any engineering trains sat outside, as they would come from Kingmoor as a SCO depot.

Still, wouldn't it be better for them to come from the South direction, so that there doesn't have to be a lot of activity at Whitehaven station.

 

[The Planner]

Still, wouldn't it be better for them to come from the South direction, so that there doesn't have to be a lot of activity at Whitehaven station.

Even if a train isnt sat there, the station is still going to be within the possession limits. Its too close to the tunnel.

 

[Gloster]

Supposedly, Workington is being used because the car parking and bus turning facilities are better. Additionally, although with the way the railway puts its own convenience above that of passengers’ nowadays it might be the main reason, it simplifies things as the crews are based there. St Bees doesn’t look as though it has space to handle anything larger than a minibus.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Even if a train isnt sat there, the station is still going to be within the possession limits. Its too close to the tunnel.

Even if a set of buffer stops was to be installed?

 

[themiller]

There are a couple of photos on Cumbria Crack website of the inside of the tunnel.

Train disruption as Bransty Tunnel closes ‘until further notice’ – cumbriacrack.com

cumbriacrack.com

 

[The Planner]

Even if a set of buffer stops was to be installed?

Then you are feeding the block from the south end only which will add cost. As noted above, getting a coach in the station car park doesnt look that easy.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Then you are feeding the block from the south end only which will add cost. As noted above, getting a coach in the station car park doesnt look that easy.

If you closed the car park then it would be easy peasy, you could even just take out of use all but the disabled spaces and still be able to get a coach in.
That said it sounds as if not running to Whitehaven is about a lot more than just coach access.
What I do think is that Northern should be explaining to people why they can't terminate at Whitehaven and Corkickle, otherwise the general populace will think it is because they can't be bothered, or for the more shoulder balanced chip brigade that it just another Workington v Whitehaven thing.

 

[Falcon1200]

Even if a train isnt sat there, the station is still going to be within the possession limits. Its too close to the tunnel.

Could the possession limits at Whitehaven not be clear of the points into the bay, with those points clipped and scotched as previously mentioned?