Far North Line disrupted due to urgent seawall repairs at Lothbeg, between Brora and Helmsdale.

[Killingworth]

My phone news feed has thrown up a story from the John O'Groats Journal and Caithness Courier.

Network Rail set to make urgent seawall repairs on Far North Line as major disruption to services continues between Inverness and Wick​

See; https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.u...rness-and-wick-to-stretch-into-next-w-331684/

Major rail disruption between Inverness and Wick is set to continue into next week as Network Rail presses on with emergency storm damage repairs.

The railway infrastructure agency is carrying out urgent seawall repairs on the Far North Line at Lothbeg, between Brora and Helmsdale.

Recent bad weather in the area caused extensive damage to a section of wall protecting the railway – washing away 18 metres of stonework in two locations.

Structural engineers have been assessing options, with the work being made more complex because repairs can only take place at low tide.

Specialist track machines and the replacement stone needed to repair the wall have been delivered and permission to work within the area, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, has been requested from Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot.
To allow engineers safe access to the railway to complete this work, ScotRail services on the Far North Line are being run between Inverness and Lairg, with a limited service between Wick and Forsinard.

Rail replacement road transport is running to supplement this.

Repairs are expected to be completed and the line reopened early next week,with passengers urged to check journey details with ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries before travelling.

Liam Sumpter, oute director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “Our teams are working hard to repair damage to the seawall near Brora caused during the recent storms.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

When was the damage to the line (in particular the seawall section between Brora and Helmsdale) actually occasioned? Has to be some days ago now.

 

[GusB]

When was the damage to the line (in particular the seawall section between Brora and Helmsdale) actually occasioned? Has to be some days ago now.

I would assume that this happened during Babet, as the more recent Ciaran had nowhere near the same effect in this part of the world.

The Network Rail press release doesn't specify, either. I'm not going to bother quoting it as the article in the OP has regurgitated it anyway.

Network Rail to undertake urgent seawall repairs on Far North Line

Train services on the Far North Line will be disrupted until early next week as Network Rail engineers complete urgent repairs to a seawall at Lothbeg, between Brora and Helmsdale.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[Mcr Warrior]

When was the damage to the line (in particular the seawall section between Brora and Helmsdale) actually occasioned? Has to be some days ago now.

I would assume that this happened during Babet, as the more recent Ciaran had nowhere near the same effect in this part of the world.

Perhaps one of the handy train running analytical tools will shed some light as to when any train last ran through the section before yesterday.

Through running yesterday would seem to confirm that repairs have now been effected.

 

[GusB]

It's worth noting that the publication is part of Highland News & Media which runs several weekly local titles. In this case, it goes out on a Friday (as does my own local paper, The Northern Scot), and they tend not to post news as it happens. I'm not sure that they have enough staff to do that anyway.

 

[Killingworth]

Looks like no trains after 18th until resumption 26th and 27th then suspended again until yesterday.

Search - Recent Train Times

 

[QueensCurve]

Is there an indication for rock filled shipping containers as were used at Dawlish in 2014?

 

[D6130]

I wonder why ScotRail are not running through to and from Brora? it would save a considerable mileage of RRB running....and also a bit of time, I would have thought.

 

[InkyScrolls]

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday the 1st of November - my usual 1001 Dingwall to Inverness was retimed to 1007 and I asked the conductor why; I can't provide a direct source I'm afraid. The line did reopen on Friday though so presumably the damage has worsened since then.

 

[Magdalia]

I wonder why ScotRail are not running through to and from Brora? it would save a considerable mileage of RRB running....and also a bit of time, I would have thought.

Look at a map.

Once people are going to have to get on and off buses, it makes sense to do that at Tain and use the Dornoch bridge, saving a lot of time and distance. I wouldn't be surprised if Lairg-Rogart-Golspie journeys were taxis.