Somerset County Councillor and Prospective Conservative MP for Yeovil, Marcus Fysh attended Network Marcus Fish Swift Action over Rail LinkRail's works to repair damage and increase resilience of the last UK rail link for those west of Yeovil that remained operative last week.
Misterton Parish Council Chairman David Welch showed Marcus the two areas of subsidence on the Exeter to London Waterloo route normally operated by South West Trains, which had forced this last remaining rail link to be closed the previous weekend due to risk of landslip and derailment.
The areas which Network Rail judged to be at risk of landslip are adjacent to Mr Welch's farm 2 miles to the east of Crewkerne in Mr Fysh's Coker division of Somerset County Council, next to where the Parrett River that has flooded the Somerset Levels rises from its source.
Marcus saw the emergency manufacture and driving of steel piles into the embankment that has stood solid since Victorian times, to shore up the rail line which has also had to support the 60 tonne modern Intercity 125 locomotives of First Great Western since they were diverted from the blocked Exeter to Bristol line the week before last.
Marcus said "We are all very grateful for the hard work of staff and emergency services in dealing with effects of the storms over recent months. It's really good Network Rail picked up this landslip risk to prevent significant danger to the public and keep rail links to the South West operating. Not only everyone in the Crewkerne area, but everyone from Yeovil to Land's End has benefited from this swift action. I am proud that this area is playing its part in keeping our beautiful South West open for business, and I will keep working to ensure we increase our resilience to these events."