TRAIN services on the West Coast Main Line between London and Rugby are expected to be disrupted until mid-February after the landslip at Hillmorton, just south of Rugby.
An Avanti West Coast driver reported a dip in the track on 27 January, and that the ground appeared to be moving.
As Network Rail engineers moved in to deal with the problem, trains were diverted to the alternative but slower route via Northampton, and London Northwestern has suspended its London to Crewe services to provide more capacity on the Northampton line.
Avanti West Coast trains will now be making additional calls at Nuneaton, Tamworth and Lichfield Trent Valley, and AWC has warned that journeys could take between 15 and 30 minutes longer.
Gus Dunster, who is executive director, operations, at Avanti West Coast, said: ‘Working closely with London Northwestern and Network Rail we’ve been able to quickly add extra stops at Nuneaton on services between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street. Services between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly will also call additionally at Tamworth and Lichfield Trent Valley.’
Network Rail’s route director James Dean added: ‘We are working around the clock rebuilding the embankment – this is a major piece of work and we are aiming to reopen the lines as usual in mid-February. This landslip was caught early thanks to an Avanti West Coast driver. His catch has meant our teams have been able to get in and prevent a much worse slip.’