Maria Miller MP met Network Rail following two recent landslips that affected local tracks in Basingstoke and two tragic incidences at our station.
Maria said, “Network Rail actively monitor the whole network for safety including at Basingstoke station and along the track in our area. Along the Wessex route there are many Victorian built cuttings and embankments that are remotely monitored with sensors to detect movement and intense rainfall that can lead to landslips. This use of technology allows trains to continue running and allows train speeds to be adapted to the local conditions.
“The area around Hook suffered a major landslip earlier this year, resulting in the closure of the track for several weeks. This area is already regularly monitored because of an earlier landslip 10 years ago. The clay Victorian embankment was particularly badly affected by the very hot summer and subsequent wet spring. The latest movement was detected 14 hours before the track had to be closed. Network Rail has a permanent task force in place undertaking preventative works, and bringing in building works if land movement happens, to ensure tracks reopen as soon as possible following an incident. As a result the effected track at Hook was rebuilt in four weeks with an overall investment of £10.7M. Temporary tracks giving a line in both directions were put in place in just seven days, with all lines back open after 6 weeks.
“With a 1000 miles of clay embankments across the Southern region, proactive work is continuing to prevent landslips with remote sensors that can immediately detect slow areas of movement. Regrading of cuttings and embankments is also being done to reduce steep cuttings to help prevent landslips.
“A further £330M is to be invested in track improvements over the next five years across the region which will further help reliability.
Maria added, “Safety at stations is also a major focus. As a regular user of Basingstoke railway station, I see first-hand the work being done by both SWR and Network Rail staff including the presence of welfare staff to offer help as soon as it might be needed by passengers in distress”
“Welfare Officers are constantly looking to identify vulnerable people at the station and have made many interventions since January this year.
“More visible policing around the train station helped by our 50 extra police officers for Basingstoke working closely with the British Transport Police will be essential to maintain security and provide support for vulnerable people”.
