Severn Valley Railway tracks laid at zero cost for bridge repair
"Whilst repairs to the embankment and bridge structure were covered largely by insurance, the track re-lay element wasn't," he said. "In record time, this superb team has been able to carry out a task that would have taken the railway's own very small permanent way gang around three weeks to complete. It's made all the difference, and we are hugely grateful."The effort saw volunteers bring in people, equipment and consumables at no cost to the heritage line - they dubbed the team the "Orange Army Volunteer All Stars."Companies taking part included some closer to home, like Stafford-based Ap Webb and Birmingham-based AWE Technologies, as well as those from further afield like National Rail and Balfour Beatty.About 30m of the track and track bed were damaged in the landslip between the Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade stations. It meant that trains could not operate there.The Flying Scotsman will celebrate the railway's reopening on 25 July, and will also run on 26 and 27 July as part of the Swingin' Sixties event, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of the line in preservation.
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