Lightening the load with infrastructure at Sterns on the Severn Valley Railway

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A significant project is underway at Sterns to mitigate further the instability of the are at the north end of the site. The SVR has made use of an alternative lightweight fill, to reduce the weight on the embankment, thereby lessening the progressive movement experienced here in recent year.
Work is complete to remove a deep area of ballast, caused by successive tamping over the years and replace with a special light weight fill material. This should reduce the weight on the area by over 50%, which should help to slow down the progressive movement experienced in recent years.
Thanks to Ice Age glaciers, Sterns sits atop slip-planes that have led to a series of landslips over the years.  
In recent years, the area has received much attention. In 2020 a comprehensive SVR Charitable Trust. In 2021 solar-powered electronic tilt monitoring, identical to that used on the national network, was fitted to detect any slip and immediately send alert messages to staff.  
On 18th January, contractors Walsh Construction, working with SVR staff, began to excavate the 300 cubic meters of embankment that needed to be removed, to make way for the lightweight fill. Dry weather meant this work progressed ahead of schedule, with all the material removed within a week and the geotextile membrane laid down.  
Once the newly laid ballast has been tamped in March, the monitoring will be reinstalled and all the sensors zeroed. It is likely that the tilt monitoring will be a long-term deployment unless a significant period of stability is observed.
The lightweight aggregate arrived at Eardington and was transported by rail to Sterns where, over the period of a week, it was settled in its new home, ready for the top layer of ballast. Much of the ballast that was removed in the excavation was sadly unusable as it had been contaminated with clay. The team was able to reuse around 60 tonnes of this and track relaying commenced on 2nd February, allowing work trains to pass.

[@dereham1]

Very informative and well-explained, thank you. You really do make some superb videos.

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Thank you - we hope you've subscribed to watch more!

[@boldford]

@@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial It may not be suitable in this situation but an even lighter fill material that has been used by NR underneath running lines is polystyrene.

[@neilcurson4505]

Did you investigate Tensar ground stabilisation grid, I believe that the Dutch railway system use it, and it's made in the UK.

[@skog4437]

Would pilings be viable? or overkill for the rate of slip?

[@philrogers2406]

Craig David... On the, digger!!!!!

[@DaiElsan]

Where there is a will there is a way.

[@metalman4141]

After this will there be an increase in fare prices ?

[@robertday8619]

Great stuff! But let's hope people are going to have money in their pockets to spend in order to enjoy a trip behind a steam locomotive!

[@williamtacey1783]

They still due to maintenance work on SVR
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