Major track drainage renewal completed as services resume through Somerton
Train services have resumed through the Somerton area after Network Rail completed a seven-day engineering blockade to renew vital drainage infrastructure beneath the railway.
Engineers began work on Monday 8 December, focusing on replacing a section of drainage running under almost 600 metres of track. The programme was completed overnight as planned, allowing trains to run again through the area this morning.
The project saw the removal of an ageing drainage system and the installation of modern components designed to improve water management and long-term resilience. As part of the upgrade, teams laid nearly 1,400 tonnes of new ballast and 800 tonnes of shingle, while also building 14 new inspection chambers to make future maintenance quicker and safer.
At peak times, up to 25 workers were on site simultaneously. The operation made use of two engineering trains, four road-rail vehicles and a tamping machine to compact the newly laid stone and stabilise the track.
While the work was under way, train services between Taunton and Castle Cary were replaced by buses. Network Rail also used the closure to carry out additional maintenance along the route, including checking and testing signalling equipment, adjusting points and clearing vegetation around junctions and drainage systems.
Jason Pankhurst, Senior Programme Manager for Network Rail, said:
“The work we have completed in the Somerton area over the past week is vital maintenance. Our new drainage system will take rain water away from the tracks much more efficiently, helping to reduce the risk of flooding in the future. We'd like to thank passengers and residents for their patience throughout this period. This kind of maintenance is essential to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway.”
Jordan Welsby, the GWR Station Manager responsible for Castle Cary, said:
“We hope our customers were not too heavily inconvenienced during this important upgrade and were able to make use of the alternative travel arrangements we put in place. It’s really important that these kinds of improvements are made to ensure the continued reliability of an important part of the railway. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience.”
Image: Network Rail