No end in sight for railway tunnel repairs
Network RailRepairs to a railway tunnel have been delayed with no reopening date set, Network Rail has said.
Bransty tunnel, between Whitehaven and Corkickle on the Cumbrian Coast Line, shut in the summer after engineers found its floor needed "significant reinforcement". Bosses initially expected it to remain closed until Easter.
Passengers on the line, which serves two major employers in the county, Sellafield and BAE, have been using replacement buses for almost a year.
A permanent repair solution had been agreed, but Network Rail said it was waiting on permits to be agreed with partners the Mining Remediation Authority and the Environment Agency for work to begin.
"This is to align the necessary environmental consents so that water contamination issues can be addressed alongside the repairs," a Network Rail spokesperson said.
The tunnel was connected with orange water at Whitehaven Harbour and works were planned to tackle issues.
However, tests to assess weight limits for the heavy machinery needed revealed issues with the floor strength, prompting the months-long closure.
Network RailNetwork Rail said it had completed "detailed inspections and a permanent repair solution has been independently verified".
It plans to use specialist grout to stabilise the tunnel and pressure relief wells to reduce groundwater pressure and manage the volume of water entering the tunnel.
Track and drainage renewal work is also planned.
It added that in the interest of saving taxpayer costs, it would take a "minimal viable product approach" which included using smaller drilling, grouting and treatment areas and fewer relief wells within the tunnel.
A spokesperson said: "We're sorry for the delay in reopening the Bransty tunnel for passengers who rely on this important route."
They also said a further update would be provided when it could "be clear on the timeline of what happens next".