Landslip and flood damage repaired
Trains are running again on two routes after lines were closed because of landslips and floods. The line between Redhill and Tonbridge reopened this morning after Network Rail engineers completed emergency repairs at Bough Beech, near Edenbridge in Kent. Over the last two weeks, they have installed 91 sheet piles, which are 8m sheets of metal, and strengthened the embankment over a 100 metre section. Meanwhile, train services have returned to a branch line in North Wales, after engineers repaired flood damage in the Conwy valley. The line between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog was closed on Tuesday afternoon last week when flooding from the River Conwy washed away ballast near Dolgarrog. Finally, the line between Bradford and Ilkley is expected to reopen at the end of June, after work to repair a landslip restarted at Baildon after a delay caused by what Network Rail described as ‘complex’ issues at the site.

Derby council leader describes ’ironic’ rail development
Great British Railways has found a temporary headquarters in its future long-term home of Derby, on the Pride Park side of Derby station. However, the leader of the city’s council Baggy Shanker says although he is ‘proud’ his community is welcoming the GBR transition team today, he points to the continuing crisis at the Alstom works, and the fear that thousands of jobs could be lost if it closes. Derby has long celebrated its industrial status as a major ‘rail cluster’, but he added: ’It’s ironic that our biggest part of that rail cluster is facing closure at the time the headquarters opens.’

Dumfries upgrade progress
A new £3.6 million footbridge and lifts have been installed at Dumfries, on the Glasgow & South Western line. Network Rail engineers worked through the night between Saturday and Sunday to install the steel structures, using two cranes weighing 500 and 110 tonnes to lift them into position. The footbridge was produced in Annan by M&S Engineering Ltd and work will now continue on completing the project, which should open this summer.