Yorkshire drainage works completed after weekend work

The East Coast Main Line has been made more resilient over the past two weekends, with crucial drainage work being carried out. The work took place on the 24th and 25th October and on the 31st October and 1st November. Drainage works have received a large investment from Network Rail, with £19.3 million budgeted across 5 years, covering 35,000 drainage assets on the route. The major project, taking place across North Yorkshire, saw 300 metres of drainage renewed at Chapman’s Bridge, near Shipton. The work will help water drain from the railway, preventing flooding, landslips and deterioration of the track layout. This work was essential ahead of what is expected to be a very wet winter, helping prevent numerous delays. Alongside the work near Shipton, work was also carried out on track, power lines and points between Colton Junction and Skelton Junction. Additionally, vegetation was managed between Tollerton and Thirsk to help prevent lines from being blocked. Over nine days, a new bridge was installed at Church Fenton to prepare for overhead power lines. “We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out this major programme of improvements on the East Coast Main Line. “The work at Chapman’s Bridge is a very good example of some of the less visible work we do to keep the railway running safely and reliably. Effective drainage is really important, especially as we head through autumn and into winter, in helping to keep water away from the railway and reducing the risk of flooding, damage and delays. “Across our East Coast route, we look after more than 35,000 drainage assets and are investing millions of pounds in renewing and maintaining them. Alongside our other work to prepare for severe weather, improvements like these will help make the railway more resilient and keep passengers moving.” John Grainger, joint head of performance, Network Rail East Coast and LNER