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Rail tunnel flooding is 'biggest problem' in area

Alastair McKee
BBC News
Reporting fromChipping Sodbury
BBC A view of a railway line with flood water on it. BBC
The railway at the Chipping Sodbury tunnel routinely floods during storms

A section of railway that floods during storms is "by far and away" the biggest problem of its kind in the region, Network Rail has said.

The Chipping Sodbury tunnel, to the north of Bristol, was built in 1901 but it and the section nearby suffers during wet weather.

A lagoon was installed in 2018 as part of a flood alleviation scheme designed to improve the resilience of the railway line.

George Barratt, project manager for Network Rail, said "bigger storm events" meant the flooding there was something they "needed to get on top of".

A man with curly brown hair and a light beard stood outside with a railway line and overhead cables behind him. He is wearing an orange high-vis Network Rail jacket.
George Barratt from Network Rail said increased drainage and monitoring would shorten closure times

The tunnel is on the main line that links Cardiff and Bristol Parkway with Swindon and London Paddington beyond.

Already this winter, there have been several closures of the line during storms.

But it is hoped the lagoon and changes to drainage will help shorten the closures.

Alongside the lagoon, Mr Barratt said a series of monitoring tools had been installed next to the railway to show when it has flooded and for them to understand where the flood water is flowing from.

"We are doing a piece of work at the moment to ensure we keep a main route between London Paddington and Cardiff open," he said.

A woman with red hair stood in front of fencing. She is wearing a green scarf and an orange high-vis jacket.
Julie Gregory from Network Rail said extra pumps will be used

"At certain times that means certain sections we are going to have to deal with certain bits of flood water.

"But it's about bouncing back quicker.

"Instead of being shut for seven or eight days, it might be shut for a few hours, then we can reopen," added Mr Barratt.

Julie Gregory from Network Rail said despite storms they had reduced the amount of time the railway is closed.

She said they had removed 35 tonnes of material from the railway drainage system to ensure the lagoon works better.

"There is one thing we are going to do which will reduce the amount of water here which is to pump some water away from the other end of the tunnel," Ms Gregory added.

"That will help us free up some capacity in our drainage system which is much needed."

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