Railways in danger from erosion

[Graham H]

A lot of press exposure about Dawlish and of course climate change warnings but how many other railway lines are in danger. I know the view from the East Coast line is spectacular and the cliff edge seems quite close at times but I also came across this picture of the Boulby branch and not only is the rail line very close to the edge but there is clear evidence that the cliff isnt stable. Moving the line inland looks feasible physically but would the investment ever be made ?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

As I recall, the Cleveland Way national trail used to be shoe-horned in to the narrow gap between the railway line and the (330 feet high) cliff edge at the location in the OP's photograph (= Hunt Cliff, between Saltburn and Skinningrove). Wonder whether it's had to be moved since the cliff edge landslips in January last year and/or subsequently.

 

[kevconnor]

It's easy to think of erosion affecting coastal areas like Dawlish and above but I would bet the greater danger is inland from events or circumstances like those at Lamington a few years ago.

A local one to me, the Calder Valley Line, has seen an increased frequency of flooding within the valley in the past 10 years owing in part to the topography of the region. This seems to be well maintained, but I am always reminded of the risks whenever travelling along the line and see the proximity of the line to the River Calder at several points along the route.

 

[themiller]

A lot of press exposure about Dawlish and of course climate change warnings but how many other railway lines are in danger. I know the view from the East Coast line is spectacular and the cliff edge seems quite close at times but I also came across this picture of the Boulby branch and not only is the rail line very close to the edge but there is clear evidence that the cliff isnt stable. Moving the line inland looks feasible physically but would the investment ever be made ?
View attachment 115128

I think that the application for an extension to the mining at Boulby included a conveyor to Teesside and was conditional upon the company providing investment funds for rail projects in the Teesside area. I don’t know the current status of this, though.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

It's easy to think of erosion affecting coastal areas like Dawlish and above but I would bet the greater danger is inland from events or circumstances like those at Lamington a few years ago.

That's a fair point, and well made. Not all erosion is coastal erosion.

Could be argued that any sections of line susceptible to (for example) landslips and/or rockfalls, and maybe needing a rockfall shelter or other related protection, are all in potential danger from the effects of erosion.

 

[Ken H]

The whole North Sea cost is being eroded, except for some places where materiel is being deposited, like Spurn Point. Anything on cliffs less than 1/2 mile from the coast will be lost - eventually.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

As I recall, the Cleveland Way national trail used to be shoe-horned in to the narrow gap between the railway line and the (330 feet high) cliff edge at the location in the OP's photograph (= Hunt Cliff, between Saltburn and Skinningrove). Wonder whether it's had to be moved since the cliff edge landslips in January last year and/or subsequently.

The official website for the National Trail [link below] does not show a diversion / closure.
England Coast Path website

The ECML was moved some time back, one example here 55.8298364604086, -2.056705201454043 between Lamberton and Burnmouth - just over the border, or just before the border for our Scottish friends!
NOTE copy and paste the co-ordinates in the google maps page, other on-line map resources are available.

Our weather related issues remain small compared to those faced by some countries. Those relying on the Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog line might disagree.
One documentary covering railways in India [possibly the Portillo series] discusses the impending monsoon season, knowing it's impact every year.
Or the effects of El Nino in South American countries where several lines have been closed permanently because of regular landslips. Off the top of my head:

• Ecuador between Quito [technically Salinas] and San Lorenzo [only built in 1957].
• Also in Ecuador, the branch from Sibambe to Cuenca following a massive landslide in 1993. This blocked a valley, created new lakes backing up several miles and devastation downstream as the water was released from the dam created by the landslide [look up La Josefina disaster]. Copy and paste these co-ordiantes into Google maps -2.847295662090755, -78.84583156402006
• Peru between La Hidrolectrica and Quillabamba [built 1978, abandoned 1998] - this is the continuation of the Cusco - Machu Picchu line.
• Chile, the mineral route out of Tocopilla [Ferrocarril de Topicilla a El Toco operated by Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM)] which zig-zagged up the mountains behind the coastal town and was electrified for that section - this featured on a Chris Tarrant episode [series 2, episode 2] just before closure so there is some record of its operation.

 

[181]

As I recall, the Cleveland Way national trail used to be shoe-horned in to the narrow gap between the railway line and the (330 feet high) cliff edge at the location in the OP's photograph (= Hunt Cliff, between Saltburn and Skinningrove). Wonder whether it's had to be moved since the cliff edge landslips in January last year and/or subsequently.

The official website for the National Trail [link below] does not show a diversion / closure.
England Coast Path website

It still ran between the railway nd the cliff edge when I walked it last September.

 

[D6130]

Over in Ireland, the Dublin-Rosslare line - IMHO the most scenic line in that country - is in grave danger on its coastal sections between Bray and Wicklow and between Wexford and Rosslare Strand.

Also the South-Eastern main line between Folkestone and Dover is in constant danger from rock falls (above) and landslips (below).