Next priority project - re-doubling of SW mainline.

[Bald Rick]

Agreed. Definitely deal with the trees, then put something like piles at the bottom plus a couple of layers of gabions, then procede as the GWSR did on their Gotherington slip repairs: https://bridgestobroadway.blogspot.com/2026/05/gotherington-slip-repairs-week-4.html

This isn’t slips. It is the subsoil shrinking.

 

[brad465]

The press release revealed some work had been done compared to last year that means the restrictions required are less than last year, but either way certainly still work to be done.

Ideally in the interim a shuttle, either GWR or SWR, would run between Exeter and Axminster to at least maintain this section at hourly frequency, where Axminster westwards' main flows are into Exeter.

 

[yorksrob]

The press release revealed some work had been done compared to last year that means the restrictions required are less than last year, but either way certainly still work to be done.

Good news anyway.

 

[AndrewE]

This isn’t slips. It is the subsoil shrinking.

I didn't say it was - but you could design a foundation layer which anchored the toe of the embankment slope to the subsoil, then have a self-supporting wall (gabions) above it - which could be hightened if needed - and a rebuilt embankment above that.

After all BR managed to keep the "WCML" relatively level across the subsiding salt seams between Crewe and Sandbach - even if they didn't put all the effort into it that they could have done.