SECURITY AND SAFETY
Safety fears over landslip that could suspend services for eight weeks
A major landslip has been causing disruption to rail services across south Yorkshire, with councillors warning that without action there could be a tragedy like the Aberfan disaster of 1966. Kate Ashley reports.
T
rain services have been suspended in parts of south Yorkshire due to a giant landslip, with disruption expected to run on for weeks.
Local councillors have also raised concerns about the land continuing to move, threatening the safety of the town.
A spoil heap at Hatfield Colliery, Stainforth, has lifted up and moved a section of track, pushing up some sections almost 20ft in the air.
Bus replacements will be running between Doncaster and Scunthorpe until the heap has been stabilised and the track can be repaired.
A team of engineers is currently assessing the situation.
Network Rail spokeswoman Rachel Lowe said: “This is an absolutely enormous task. We will have to re-lay the whole area.
“Our engineers have been at Hatfield Colliery throughout this event and are dealing with their experts. They obviously have to stop this movement before we can do anything about restoring the railway.”
Town councillors warned that the landslip could lead to “another Aberfan”, where a colliery spoil tip collapsed on top of a village in 1966, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
Councillors said they had been campaigning for years to get the size of the tip reduced. Town Mayor Arlene Abbott told the local paper, the Doncaster Free Press: “We want to work together to fight to get something done and we have been fobbed off.
“It makes you worried about what could happen next.”
Network Rail said in a statement: “We have been carefully monitoring the track near Hatfield colliery at Stainforth since Saturday afternoon (9 Feb) when a train driver reported a ‘rough ride’.
“Train services in the area have been carefully managed to protect safety.
“Unfortunately conditions have deteriorated and it is no longer possible to run services through the area.
“We anticipate that there will be disruption to services between Doncaster and Goole and Doncaster and Scunthorpe for some time. Our engineers are working with the colliery to plan the safe repair of the track bed and railway once the spoil heap has been stabilised. We understand it will take several days to complete the stabilisation work.
“At this stage it is not possible to say when direct rail services will resume.
“We will publish a timescale for the works as soon as possible and apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused.”
A Hatfield Colliery spokesman said: “Detailed assessments of the situation are still ongoing between Hatfield Colliery’s engineers, external civil engineers, Network Rail and the Health and Safety Executive.
“Our civil engineers have recommended that the tip is allowed to settle naturally. During this time the tip will be closely monitored.
“The Health and Safety Executive, with their civil engineers, attended the site on Wednesday and have agreed this is a sensible and prudent course of action.
“Our engineers have devised a remedial plan that will start once all parties are satisfied the tip is in equilibrium.
“At this stage we are unable to say when that will be, but we will issue a further update once we know more.”
Nick Donovan, managing director of First TransPennine Express, added: “The ground remains extremely unstable and land movement continues.
“The site needs to be made safe before Network Rail can fully investigate the damage caused.
“The damage is however very significant and it is now highly unlikely we will be able to operate a train service for at least the next eight weeks between Doncaster and Scunthorpe.”
opinion@railtechnologymagazine.com TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Above: These photos show the scale of the damage. rail technology magazine Feb/Mar 13 | 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84