SVR Damaged due to Rain

[Ascot]

Not much of an Update this month in the "Public Domain"

It is emerging that the problem at Sterns is now increasing and that the amount of work required will take this repair past the end of September.Therefore trains will not be able to depart from Bridgnorth towards Hampton Loade for the the Autumn Steam Gala.

Ta Dewi

I do want to take the time to thank all who have taken some time to help out, be it donations or time to helping The Railway out also thank-you to those who have used the "Supporting the Flood Appeal" signatures in there own on other forums and this forum to help and support us.

Our main priority now is patience, it's going to be a long time of work and without those volunteers helping on the track we won't have what we have now.

Also another message i got was that the line between Kidderminster and Bewdley IS SAFE to run passenger trains on, people have checked it and have found no fault whatsoever.

Regards, Mark

 

[Ascot]

Clarification

BH-HL best estimate of reopening for passenger service mid to end of October (this is now dependant on Sterns repairs)

BY-AY best estimate end of November (although it could be 2008 before passenger trains run through)

Summary of funding and costs
Advantage W Midlands £500,000
European RDF £750,000
Insurance £750,000
Flood Appeal £325,000(tonight)
This leaves us £207,000 short of the current estimated costs.This could of course rise if more damage is caused in the meantime.The loss of profits while we rebuild the railway are covered by our Business Interuption Policy and which allows us to pay all our staffs’ salaries and other expenses associated with running the railway.

Saturday 11h August 495 passengers
Sunday 12th August 542 passengers

SPECIAL DIESEL EVENT IS BACK ON (with alterations!)
Friday 12th October.KR to BY.All diesel service
Saturday 13th October.KR to BY.Steam and Diesel service
More to follow about this though.

 

[Ascot]

Latest update in summary of the month:

Hampton Loade Slip (report of 23rd August)
New drains installed under track bed,new chambers installed riverside of embankment,new land drain will be installed next week on the uphill cess.Rock infill is now about four foot below sleeeper height and it is hoped that by Friday 31st August that the contractors will have filled and tamped the formation reaching sleeper height.With a top layer of ballast the track can then soon be replaced.

Note from Bewdley P Way Dept – this is real Health and Safety.
Ref working in water courses, siphon etc of which we are doing more than usual at the moment, you should be aware that there is the possibility of contracting an infection from water containing rat’s urine. The condition is called leptospirosis or Weil’s Disease, if you do feel unwell after working in water contact your GP without delay, it is treatable with antibiotics if treated promptly, but bad if ignored, so don’t dismiss anything as flu or tummy trouble but see you GP. Tell him/her about the possibility of Weil’s Disease.

HL Station,the booking hall has seen some work.Started off replacing a skirting board,then found dry rot in floor boards then found lime plaster on wall disintegrating,repairs now in hand,but help with painting required on wet days!.Platforms white lined someone else required to finish off the job.Signalbox repaint someone to scrape,sand,primer,undercoat and gloss bottom half of signalbox and access steps.Someone with carpentry skills to replace the bottom step (rotted away).Project in hand is a corrugated iron hut to be used as a woodstore,someone to wirebrush metal frame and paint.Staff may turn up at HL Sats or Suns and you’ll be found a job,this Sunday report to Andy about 10.00am.If you want to get involved in some of the above jobs then contact Steve Dockerty on. Contact me (Ascot) for the number

ALSO:

As seen in other thread about the Diesel: we got them running the next 2 weekends. It's a Thomas event as well.

The galas i have no more info about YET.

Again thanks all for your support.

 

[Ascot]

First Update of the month.

It's been along time since June but Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade is quite close, looking towards start of next year though for the full line again.


No boring text but i'v got images...





086
Show damage to a headwall of one of the culverts.Although the water is now free flowing there is still a lot of work to clear trees,debris and rocks before brickies can repair and repoint to make safe.

090
embankment slip at MP 144 3/4.This will require digging out and replacing with rock.

 

[class 313]

Glad to see the line is being done so fast! A big thank you is in order to those who are helping out and who have gave money for the flood appeal.

 

[Ascot]

Wednesday 19th September
Engine 4771 “Green Arrow” is due to be delivered by road to Kidderminster.

Also see note about Snow Hill to Kidderminster charters.

 

[rebel]

I have to say I was shocked when I saw the photo display at Kiddy the other week. I had NO idea things were quite so bad

Top job to all involved for getting on with the task in hand though. It must be soul destroying.
Might see some of you at the diesel gala.

 

[Ascot]

HAMPTON LOADE
Large Slip Contractors should finish work here with machines in use to replace the missing track on Thursday.The 2 telegraph which were removed to facilitate the repairs (or were they washed away?) will not be replaced.
Small slip neares the WWX will be attended to as the machines retreat from the Large Slip to WWX
S+T Concrete troughing will be delivered from the manufacturers at Telford to Bridgnorth and taken by smaller road vehicles to WWX and HL to build this run.

With today’s update it is still hoped that the above work can be done in time to reopen BH-HL sometime in November.

HAMPTON LOADE TO HIGHLEY
Culvert headwalls are being repaired,in some cased demolished then repaired..Charlie Davies’ crossing work now complete (trenching,french drains,culvert repairs,cleaning etc).
Culvert at 144 ¾ water flowing under track but not in the culvert.Its probably collapsed and when there is enough water in the stream it comes up in the four foot (from 15 feet below track!).The solution here is probably to abandon the culvert and thrust bore a new culvert.

NORTHWOOD
Final engineering soulution being drawn up.Police and Wyre Forest District Council aware of heavy and additional road movements along Northwood Lane.Traffic control arranged.Trees to be felled (not by volunteers),machines to be brought in cement mixers,pumps,water bowsers,drills and manpower is being arranged.It is hoped that this could start mid October.Soil-nailing will only take place on SVR land and should take about three months.Then the track can be taken off the slip,the track bed dug down about 5 foot,consolidated,before the rails can be relaid sometime in January?.(only then can engineering trains cross.

 

[buckingham]

Its terrible news about the severn valley railway and its good to see that there are so many people who look as though they want to help.

My company are going to be in touch to see if we can work out a scheme to put in place.

Lets hope its up and running again as soon as possible

 

[theblackwatch]

The NYMR is holding a 'Valley Aid' event in November, which should see 50049 working to Whitby on Saturday 3rd then doing Whitby-Goathland services (doubled headed with 50027 on the NYMR section). On Sunday 4th it will work top and tail between Whitby and Battersby with K4 'The Great Marquess'. Also out should be Classes 25/37/55.

More gen at http://nymr.co.uk/news/valley-aid.

 

[Ascot]

Long time no update i guess:

STERNS (Cottage Slip)
Work is now awaiting a decision by two insurance companies and the Board on how the railway should proceed. Situation should be clear by the end of the week. Plan was and may still be to start piling here on 29th October. This work should take four weeks. Depending on work methods this may require the track to be lifted. Rail tamper at KR to be moved by road to BH in time to tamp OV, KS, Sterns and HL

STERNS (Historical Slip)
The bit of the line which we have always kept an eye on has had a “wobble” but nothing more than we have seen in the last 10 years or more. No remedial action needed except for the passing of the tamper.

HAMPTON LOADE
Track reinstated good enough for goods trains. Debris in Waterworks Crossing car park yet to be moved out. Contractors laying S+T troughing. Drainage HL-HY camera survey virtually done. River erosion on riverside of cycle path repaired

MP 144 ¾
Thrust boring to replace collapsed culvert will start on 5th November. This will require one panel removed and a bit of tidying up afterwards.

HIGHLEY
Culvert under the steam crane partially collapsed. Will be “pipe-burst”. This method is a the use of a machine making its way through the old pipe and squeezing the damage outwards at the same time drawing in very thick plastic pipe behind it. At the moment 4 or 5 lorry loads of spoil are leaving the main slip site but when the stone comes in this will rise to about 15 lorry loads a day.

VICTORIA BRIDGE
Plan to erect AY Down Distant next week using road railer

EYMORE CUTTING
Prices are being obtained from three major track companies to relay half a mile of track through Eymore Cutting. This is one option to speed up the reopening of the BY-AY section allowing work to be carried mid week without being dependant on when volunteers are available.
Tree felling in Eymore Cutting will be done by contractors. This is the ideal time to fell large trees without disturbing the track or trains.

EYMORE WOODS
Mid October - panels in three separate locations will be lifted to allow large collapsed drains to be dug out and rebuilt using contractors and road railers. P Way gang will be required to lift track.

FOLLY POINT
Work started last week with vegetation clearance above the line. ”Spider” earth moving machines are now crawling up the hillside scraping down loose spoil, vegetation and debris. This will then be taken by Road railer to the Elan Valley Aqueduct car park for onward removal by road.

NORTHWOOD
Clearance of trees and vegetation started above the line today. Three soil nailing drilling rigs booked to start work on either 29th October or 5th November. News update letter being sent to residents in this area this week and residents invited to a meeting at BY to be kept informed of developments next week.

WORCESTER ROAD BRIDGE
Worcester Highways will not close this road between December 2007 and February 2008. Therefore it has been agreed to defer the closure and the repair work until October 2008.The line between KR and BY will therefore remain open until October 2008.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Good Luck with all of that!

 

[87015]

Hoping to make an appearance tomorrow afternoon for a quick bash. Hopefully a decent turnout to support the line especially for making some effort with diesel running, would have been easy to cape the lot...

 

[matt]

I shall also be making an appearance tomorrow

 

[Beaker]

Was there today with 20188 was a good day! well done gto svr

 

[Ascot]

Anyone get some piccies of today? not around this weekend.

1. Oldbury Viaduct.
• Civil engineering work completed, contractor off site.
• Drainage system installed.
• Track bed handed back to SVR.
• BH P Way gang will be reinstating about four panels of track southwards from OV this weekend
• Repaired embankment hydroseeded.
• Work above Daniel’s Mill to be completed during next 12 months before site considered finished but trains permitted to run whilst the work is being carried out.
• BH Down Home Signal post re-erected.
• Cable troughing being laid.
• Track from OV to KS to relay.
2. Knowlesands.
• Several slips between KS and OV have now been repaired.
• Drainage system has been installed.
• Track bed has been handed back to SVR. Contractor off site
• Repaired embankment has been hydroseeded.
• Drainage across field to river to be finalised.
• Solution to trading estate drainage and security barrier to follow on when possible.
• Drainage ditch being constructed and lined.
• Contaminated ballast dug out for cleaning/replacement.
• Ballast being screened in trading estate to be returned clean to SVR to reuse.
• S & T cable to be installed.
• Track to relay.
• Cutting faces near tunnel inspected by specialists and loose debris/material removed and vegetation cleared.
3. South of Knowlesands.
• Both areas of damage to cutting walls rebuilt.
• New sections have been hydroseeded.
• Contaminated ballast being dug out for cleaning/replacement.
• Ballast being screened in trading estate and clean returned to SVR.
• Drainage ditch to tunnel to be dug.
• S & T cable to be installed.
• Track to relay.
4. Hay Bridge (not flood damage)
• Road closure booked 09.00 to 15.00 on 16.10.07 to replace beam.
• Mobile road crane to be used (no rail access).
• Some vegetation clearance undertaken
5. Sterns Cottage Culvert.
• Culvert to be replaced, hopefully at new level subject to EA and Bridgnorth DC agreement.
• Subject to consents should start within two weeks.
• One track panel to be removed prior to culvert replacement.
6. Sterns Cottage Slip.
• Final attempt to reach agreement with insurance companies in hand
• Drilling and piling machines booked for end of month start to pile wall between railway and cottage. 45 m long.
• Piling will take 12 weeks followed by capping beam.
7. Sterns (historic slip).
• Track to be lined and levelled using tamper brought in by road from KR.
8. Little Rock Cutting.
• New drainage system installed beneath track, work complete. Contractor off site
9. Waterworks Crossing to Hampton Loade.
• Small slip by Up Distant Signal completed.
• Main slip now re-instated.
• New drainage system installed.
• Drainage across Unicorn site and across field to Severn has been started.
• Track back in place waiting tamping.Tamper arrives after OV,KS,Sterns
• Small slip by bracket signal north end of station now complete.
• All slips hydroseeded.
• S & T cable troughing being laid.
• New signal cable to be installed.
10. Hampton Loade Station (not flood damage).
• North end platform ramps rebuilt by cotractors.
• Barrow crossing to replace.
11. Hampton Loade to Highley.
• Approx 25 culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• Culvert at 144 3/4 to replace (by thrust boring).
• Culvert north of Highley station to replace (by pipe bursting).
• Many culvert headwalls replaced/rebuild.
• New drainage systems proved in some areas.
12. Highley.
• Design approval of repair work by independent third party now received.
• New deep drainage being installed (typically 3 to 5m deep).
• Preliminary work on main slip started, reliant on drainage being completed before main work starts.
• Cattle dock and watertower removed to give required access (to be rebuilt when work complete).
• New drainage route from base of slip to river nearing agreement with landowner.
• Track to be relayed (including spur to Engine House) when ground works complete.
• Signalling and token catchers to re-instate when track in situ.
13. Highley to Fisherman’s Crossing Slip.
• Waiting legal agreements regarding access to be finalised.
• Hope to start within two weeks.
14. Borle Viaduct.
• Training walls in bed of stream have deteriorated significantly since July.
• Access agreements in place.
• EA approvals now received (to permit work to start)
• Access roads now built.
• Trees cleared for machinery access.
• Soil nailing machines now on site.
15. Bridge 18.
• Clearance work in stream bed started.
16. Highley to Arley.
• Work in progress on inspection, clearing/pressure/jet washing of culverts.
17. Victoria Bridge.
• Slips now repaired.
• New drainage system installed.
• Track bed handed back to SVR.
• Temporary track in place.
• Contaminated ballast dug out.
• Signal to re-erect.
• Half mile of track to be relayed once access available.
• Signalling to re-instate when new track in situ.
18. Eyemore Cutting.
• Temporary track in place.
• Contaminated ballast dug out.
• Major tree clearance work to start November.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• Half mile of track to be relayed once access available.
• Signalling cable to install when track in situ.
• Rock netting inspected for damage and debris removed by specialists.
19. Trimpley.
• Two culverts to replace (cut and cover) will require removal of some track panels.
• Work required near Severn Trent Water pipe under railway.
• Several hundred tons of spoil stored on the lineside to move off site once rail connection established.
20. Folly Point.
• Work below track complete.
• Track handed back to SVR.
• Track in place requires tamping.
• Spider crawlers (specialist machines) working above track to clear loose debris.
• Gabion wall to complete above track (to catch future small slips) will require ongoing inspection and maintenance programme.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• S & T cable troughing to install.
• Replacement Signalling cable to install.
21. Northwood.
• Design worked up.
• Soil nailing machines booked for end of October.
• When soil nailing complete track to remove then top 3m of embankment to remove for consolidation.
• Tree clearance above line started.
• Wyre Forest working up drainage scheme for area above railway.
• SVR scheme designed to accept drainage from above and pipe through railway.
• Land owner of chalet sites above railway on board with scheme.
• Same landowner indicated agreement for new drainage across field to river.
• Continuing discussions with specific residents.
• Culverts inspected by camera, jet washed/pressure cleaned as necessary.
• When civil engineering work complete track to replace.
• New S & T cable to lay.
• Open meeting with residents of Northwood Lane on 18 Oct.
22. Northwood to Bewdley.
• Some drainage and culvert work to complete (does not impact on railway operation).
• Handed back to railway. Contractors off site (see below)
23. Worcester Road Bridge (not flood damage).
• Rescheduled for October 2008 due to time constraints between Christmas and Easter 2008 and refusal of Worcestershire Highways to sanction scaffolding of bridge prior to Christmas 2007.

 

[87015]

Anyone get some piccies of today? not around this weekend.

Few here http://redcow.fotopic.net/c1304777_25.html I had a good afternoons spin, decent turnout aswell I thought, also some flagging priv and other discounts to support the railway - good show all round :-P

 

[matt]

http://redcow.fotopic.net/p45822613.html

I spot a me again at the front window (in the stripey shirt)

 

[andrewmay]

And that might just be me standing next to Matt thinking ' I bet i'm ruining that guys photo'. So now I know who's photo I was spoiling. Greetings to you and apologies for intruding on 20188's glory. It was the first time I'd been to the SVR in a long time and it was good to see the turnout even with the disappointing weather.

Gotta love that slug.

 

[Ascot]

Gotta love that slug.

Haha most people say that if flames start coming out of the top :-P

Piccie time, credits to Dewi who took the piccies on 13th Oct


Last bit that will be done is AY-BY so it is expected to work from BH down to AY. Christmas is still on and will be shuttles to Bewdley with 3 trains 5 coach sets.

 

[Ascot]

These images taken by Dewi show things from a different angle of the damage and repair.



181
Standing on the Northwood Slip,note the large tree stump.The remainder of the tree has been sawn off as it was growing horizontally out of the hillside and was in danger of collapsing and pulling the roots out of the ground.

185
Taken from above the line on the Nortwood slip,the tarmaced lane and threatened bungalowas can be seen below.The River Severn is just off the top of the photo

187
Similar picture.Trees have yet to be felled before soil nailing and further permanent drainage work can be done

Ta Dewi Jones, Traffic Manager

Passenger Services from Bridgnorth to Mile Post 149 1/2

Passenger Trains may be hauled or propelled.
Marshalled at the KR end and the Locomotive at the BH end.
No public in the Guards area and to be locked off.

Up coming events October to November

20th to 28th October running every day
Running every Saturday and Sunday

December Preview

Saturdays and Sundays until 23rd is Santa services to BY.
Saturdays until 22nd is Evening Dining Car Train
Saturdays between 8th and 22nd is Evening Carol DMU

Sundays until 23rd is Santa Event

Wednesday 26th until Tuesday 1st of January 2008 is Festive Service w/ Saturday and Sunday 29th 30th (resp.) dining cars on service train.

 

[Ascot]

NYMR –‘VALLEY AID’
2nd – 4th November 2007

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway continue their fantastic support of the SVR through ‘Valley Aid’ . They are staging a special enthusiast’s weekend from 2nd – 4th November, and the majority of the income will be donated to our Flood Appeal.

Several loco owners will be making their engines available.

Philip Benham, General Manager of the NYMR wishes me to invite SVR staff/volunteers to this event. By showing your SVR staff pass you will receive free travel over the Valley Aid weekend.

 

[Ascot]

Wednesday 31st October
Cl 50 50049 departs KR for North Yorkshire Moors Railway to attend “Valley Aid” event.

Thursday 1st November
42969 due back to KR by road from the West Somerset Railway
4566 then to be moved by road to BH MPD for running repairs
5164 then to be moved by road to KR to be one of the 5 engines.(5764,46443,45110,5164 and 42968)
required at the south end for December running.

Saturday 3rd November
Bridgnorth MPD staff have organised a FREE bonfire and firework display from 7.00pm but a donation to the Flood Appeal would be welcomed. Open to everyone not just SVR staff.

Ta Dewi

So come on down to Kidderminster on the 3rd Nov and show your support

 

[paul1609]

Hi Ascot,
Are any dates being talked about when other sections of the SVR might re-open?
I live too far away to justifying visiting when just the Kid- Bewley section is open.
Its a few years since I last visisted but I seem to remember that that section was mostly industrial estates and my down train was delayed for an hour after being bricked.

How about organising tours for other railways members showing the work being carried out. If there was a tour available say by minibus at £30- 50 I'd definately be interested.

Paul

 

[Ascot]

Hi Ascot,
Are any dates being talked about when other sections of the SVR might re-open?
I live too far away to justifying visiting when just the Kid- Bewley section is open.
Its a few years since I last visisted but I seem to remember that that section was mostly industrial estates and my down train was delayed for an hour after being bricked.

How about organising tours for other railways members showing the work being carried out. If there was a tour available say by minibus at £30- 50 I'd definately be interested.

Paul

As it stands Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade will be open first in the new year, currently about April May time before full line opens.

The person you want to contact if you want to organise something like that is the General Manager:

Severn Valley Railway
The Railway Station
Bewdley
Worcestershire
DY12 1BG

Tel No: 01299 403816

Between Kidderminster and Bewdley isn't much, you got the Safari Park, Bewdley International, Bewdley Town, also shuttles to Northwood on some timetables (none this side of new year).

As staff we used to get a daily report and images however it has gone to weekly or so now and not as many pictures.

By all means get in touch with them about organising a tour but with health and safety i think the only thing to do is become a member and help out on some of the vegetation clearences, some listed below, as quite alot of people are needed for this and well rewarding at the end of the day. You need to be insured as a working member for this, not sure on the arrangements for new volunteers to help on the clearances are.

Sunday 29th October
Vegetation clearance train will leave Bewdley about 10.30am – meet at Bewdley for 10.00am
Work will concentrate near the Bewdley Up Home signal, train then trips felled trees to the Tenbury Wall where it is then burnt. Further clearance around Bridge 12 is planned.

Sat 3rd November
Colin Astbury will be leading a gang on clearance work at the Stourport P Way sidings. This will include vegetation clearance and disposing of wood and scrap metal. Meet at Bewdley C+W from 10.00am.Cl 08 and road railer in use.

Our Volunteer liaison office will point you in the right direction,

Volunteer Liaison Office
The Severn Valley Railway
The Railway Station
Bewdley
Worcestershire
England
DY12 1BG

Telephone: (01299) 401776
E-mail: [email protected]

Any more information needed and just ask i'll post new information as i get it and i'll include vegetation trips on here now.

Edit: If you got PTS on another railway then it might be worth saying you have and your job roll, might make it easier.

 

[Ascot]

NORTHWOOD
Test drilling and soil nailing started yesterday. Found that when extracting water from the mains supply for the grouting that the water pressure to some of the huts in the Lane dropped.Looking into taking a loaded rail tanker of water to Northwood to supply grouting machines.

Ta Dewi Jones

 

[1D53]

The NYMR put a stonking show on today for the SVR!

Lets hope it raises plenty of pennies!

 

[Ascot]

STERNS CULVERT
For a few days there was a complete railway from BH to HY but due to a new culvert required to be built here, sleepers and rail for about 45m was removed from the formation today. This will allow earth moving machines in later this week to dig down into the formation about 3m and install new culvert pipes.

HIGHLEY
About ¾ of the deep drains have now been dug and filled with rock. These range from 5m to 3 m deep and is a slow process of digging the trench, installing metal retaining walls, inserting an membrane before the rock can be put in. Only then can the metal trench walls be extracted and the same is carried out alongside with the next trench. To allow the earth moving machines to get to these depths they have had to dig away the hillside to a lower level so that the machines can get maximum reach.

Ta DJ
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
More Rain pouring down tonight, no information as of yet if it has affected us.

New timetable in Operation:

At Bewdley, runs out as far as Outer Signal then run into P2. Expected until March 16th 08 however can be withdrawn if line progresses before.

 

[Ascot]

Big Improvements

See first page for key and latest map, this is todays only and in a few weeks it is likely to change on a new post and on the first page

Latest on full line status:

CLEOBURY MORTIMER ROAD BRIDGE and BRIDGNORTH
The repair to the bridge is now booked for Wednesday 21st November. This will involve our 30Ton steam crane whilst road traffic will be controlled by traffic lights. I envisage that the Bridgnorth station to Mile Post 149 ½ shuttle should resume on Sat and Sun 24th and 25th November.

KNOWLESANDS
Ballast is now being brought in from the Clee Hills (about 10 miles away) by road to Eardington. Ballast trains are now running to KS to unload theis should be completed tomorrow. The Shark ballast plough should be in use on Thursday with the tamping machine starting work from Oldbury Viaduct Thursday afternoon,possibly into early next week.
Only when other work (P Way and S+T) is complete the shuttle can be extended over Knowlesands to a point just short of Eardington station. This maybe during December. A different method of operating will be implemented. These will be the first passenger trains to run over any repaired section of track since June 20th. I will announce the start date of this extended shuttle as soon as we know we have an intact and safe section of railway.

STERNS CULVERT
Machines are now digging out a new formation and installing new drainage pipes.These are reinforced plastic about 4 foot wide and are being laid under the cottage car park and the railway.

As there are no other significant obstructions between BH and HL so trains can then to run to HL. Could this be February half term week?

SVR road railer moved BY to AY

Ta Dewi

What can be finished first, the Bury St Edmunds bridge or us

Look at the image Dewi taken at Oldbury Viaduct, compare to the original images of the damage at Fishermans



Reply to this post to get email alerts on latest updates

EDIT: Added image to compare to :woops:

 

[paul1609]

Just out of interest Ascot there seems to be a rumour going around that 70% of the damage to the SVR was caused by the poor state of maintenance on the line. eg blocked drains and deferred civils. I would have though it sour grapes if I hadn't heard it from a manager of one of the large rail civil engneering co.s