Sea defences keep trains on time

Tons of rock are being used to boost defences

Coastal erosion threatening to bring disruption to train services in Cumbria is being tackled in a £300,000 scheme.

A railway cutting at Parton is getting a face-lift over the next three weeks, as one of a number of improvement projects.

The work has been undertaken to stop earth being washed onto the track, and follows other recent coastal defence improvements between Whitehaven and Maryport.

Work should stop tides corroding the sea wall and allow trains running near the coast to keep to their timetable.

A buffer of boulders is being put in place at the bottom of a cutting at Parton to protect the line.

Further sea defences will be built at Siddick, where 5,000 tonnes of rocks will be put in place before work begins on track maintenance.