Work is ramping up to get trains moving as soon as possible after a freight train derailed in Carlisle last month.
Engineers have successfully removed three wagons from the line at the Petteril Bridge junction.
An 800-tonne crane was used to lift the wagons – which had to be emptied before the lift could go ahead – last weekend by Network Rail.
The train was carrying powdered cement from Cleethorpes to Carlisle when it derailed on Wednesday, October 19. Initial investigations believe a faulty wheel was to blame.
The derailment caused significant damage to a bridge, track and line side equipment including signalling and points cabling.
Since then the railway has been closed in both directions – impacting all services on the Tyne Valley line between Carlisle and Newcastle and the Settle to Carlisle line between Carlisle, Appleby and Skipton.
The wagons have been loaded onto the back of lorries to be taken away by rail accident investigators.
Now, Network Rail said its works delivery team was immediately ramping up railway repairs now the recovery phase is complete – although it is still estimating that the lines will not reopen until early next month.
Up to 50 engineers will be on site each day to replace 80 metres of damaged track, install 400 metres of cabling, secure bridge foundations eroded in the river Petteril with 100 tonnes of stone and rebuild 41 metres of destroyed bridge parapet.
Craig Jackson, Network Rail Works Delivery manager, said: “The weather has hugely been on our side to remove the three stranded cement wagons and this marks a turning point in our hard work to get the railway repaired and reopen for passengers.
“Now the wagons have been loaded onto lorries to be taken away by accident investigators, work can really get going to fix the track and bridge significantly damaged by the derailment.
“The railway must stay closed while we carry out these important repairs, so bus replacement services will still be in operation.”
