Settle to Carlisle rail line '˜closed for months'

Network Rail said it was unable to give a timetable for the repairs to the line, which is hugely popular with tourists, but warned it will “take several months at least”.

A landslip on the section at Eden Brows, between Carlisle and Appleby, has seen around 500,000 tonnes of earth move causing damage to the tracks.

Trains will continue to run between Leeds and Appleby with replacement buses taking passengers the rest of the way.

The line has been closed since Tuesday when the problem was first spotted.

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s route managing director, said: “An estimated 500,000 tonnes of earth have moved already and the embankment is still moving. That’s 10 times the weight of the QE2 ocean liner when it is fully loaded. The extent of this landslip means it is no longer safe for this section of railway to be open to trains.

“Our monitoring has detected a twist fault in the tracks caused by the ground movement. The slip is accelerating and it is not safe to run trains in this situation.

“Our engineers on site are undertaking detailed ground surveys and this will enable us to design a permanent and lasting repair.

“Network Rail’s contractors have already started to build access roads and compounds so we can get our heavy machinery to where it is needed. This will enable us to start construction work as soon as the design is finalised.

“The River Eden has severely eroded the base of the embankment. This, combined with the recent repeated storms and saturated ground, caused the landslip.

“This is a vital rail link across the north of England and I am very aware of how important the railway is to the local community and local economy.”