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Dawlish landslip: Army to help clear rail line | Dawlish landslip: Army to help clear rail line |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Army has been called in to help reinstate the main rail line to the south west of England after it was destroyed by storms. | The Army has been called in to help reinstate the main rail line to the south west of England after it was destroyed by storms. |
Up to 30,000 tonnes of unstable rock and soil has to be removed near Dawlish in a controlled landslip. | Up to 30,000 tonnes of unstable rock and soil has to be removed near Dawlish in a controlled landslip. |
Network Rail hopes the Royal Engineers will be able to use specialist equipment to remove part of the rock face so the line can be reinstated. | Network Rail hopes the Royal Engineers will be able to use specialist equipment to remove part of the rock face so the line can be reinstated. |
It added it hoped the line would still be reopened on 4 April. | It added it hoped the line would still be reopened on 4 April. |
Network Rail said it was unable to work below the area close to Teignmouth Road, Dawlish, because of the risk of rock and soil collapsing. | Network Rail said it was unable to work below the area close to Teignmouth Road, Dawlish, because of the risk of rock and soil collapsing. |
Rail bosses are considering blasting the rock face and even using a specialist tug based at Falmouth, Cornwall, to fire water at the cliff. | Rail bosses are considering blasting the rock face and even using a specialist tug based at Falmouth, Cornwall, to fire water at the cliff. |
Julian Burnell, of Network Rail, said they were also consulting experts at the Camborne School of Mines. | Julian Burnell, of Network Rail, said they were also consulting experts at the Camborne School of Mines. |
He said: "The Army have been offering us advice since the start of the problem and they have a very small team of one or two officers in place helping us. | |
"We are hoping they will be able to use specialised equipment protected by armour, to remove the rock face and soil. | |
"Another option we are looking at is dropping water from a helicopter to help control the landslip." | |
In February, storms washed away the sea wall and left the track, which connects the South West to the rest of the UK, suspended in mid air. | |
Fire crews are continuing to pump sea water on to the cliff to help bring down the rock and soil. | Fire crews are continuing to pump sea water on to the cliff to help bring down the rock and soil. |
Gaps in the sea wall have since been filled and work to repair the damaged station and platforms at Dawlish have almost been completed. |