Drainage works end as East Coast Main Line prepares for autumn and winter weather

Vital drainage work making the East Coast Main Line more resilient during wet weather has been completed as part of a major programme of railway improvements in North Yorkshire.

The engineering work – carried out over the past two weekends (24-25 October and 31 October-1 November) – saw engineers renew 300 metres of drainage at Chapman’s Bridge, near Shipton, helping water drain away from the railway more effectively and reducing the risk of flooding and other weather-related problems.

Poor drainage can contribute to flooding, deterioration of the track layout and problems with surrounding earthworks, making maintaining and renewing drainage an important part of preparing the railway for autumn and winter conditions.

The work comes as Network Rail continues significant investment in drainage across its East Coast route.

The route has more than 35,000 drainage assets, with £19.3 million budgeted during the five-year period to 2029 for drainage renewals and maintenance.

It forms part of wider efforts to prepare the railway for challenging weather at this time of year.

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Teams check and clear drains, manage vegetation and use technology to monitor infrastructure before severe weather arrives.

As well as the drainage renewal at Chapman’s Bridge, engineers carried out other significant railway upgrades between Colton Junction, about six miles south of York, through York station and up to Skelton Junction, around two miles to the north.

These included installing new track, upgrading several sets of points, the specialist equipment that allow trains to change lines, and the improvement of overhead electric lines.

There was also vegetation management between Tollerton and Thirsk, helping to improve safety and enhance performance on the route for the millions of customers who use the East Coast Main Line every year.

Alongside this work, over a nine-day period from Saturday 24 October, the Transpennine Route Upgrade installed a new road bridge over the railway at Church Fenton and new overhead line equipment to provide power for faster, greener electric trains in the future.

John Grainger, joint head of performance, Network Rail East Coast and LNER, said: “We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out this major programme of improvements on the East Coast Main Line.

“The work at Chapman’s Bridge is a very good example of some of the less visible work we do to keep the railway running safely and reliably. Effective drainage is really important, especially as we head through autumn and into winter, in helping to keep water away from the railway and reducing the risk of flooding, damage and delays.

“Across our East Coast route, we look after more than 35,000 drainage assets and are investing millions of pounds in renewing and maintaining them. Alongside our other work to prepare for severe weather, improvements like these will help make the railway more resilient and keep passengers moving.”