The land slip at Gotherington is an inconvenience and signifcant challenge for the Honeybourne Line, but it's no reason to be downbeat.  In this interview with our website editor, Ian Crowder, the railway's chairman Malcolm Temple explains that all the stops are being pulled out to remedy the problem, but warns that there is no quick fix.

IC: First things first, how was the slip discovered?

MT: Well, in fact a problem was initially spotted by volunteers doing some electrical work at Gotherington signal box.  It looked as if there was a slight dip developing beneath the outer edge of the unused track on the run-round loop, south of the box.  But there was no sign of any slippage on the embankment itself.  Later a routine track inspection showed that the dip had grown so the drivers of service trains were asked to pass at a very slow speed as a precaution with both the Property (Darren Fairley) and Operations (Neil Carr) Directors supervised each train over the affected area, watching for any movement.   The dip seemed only to be localised and was not close to the running line.  This was on Thursday April 22^nd. 

Next day Darren and Neil undertook a number of close inspections throughout the day and as there appeared to be significant change in the dip, with movement progressing closer to the running line, we decided to suspend services south of Gotherington with immediate effect.  A void had appeared to form under the loop and was reaching out towards the running line with ballast falling away not just from under the loop but from the shoulder of the main line too.

IC: Was that a hard decision to make?

MT: Well, it was an unpleasant decision but the safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority.  Given that the ground looked unstable, even though it was evidently not initially affecting the running line, we had no choice but to do that.  It was the right decision as the slip has moved further as days have passed. 

Fortunately, the coming weekend was our very successful Thomas event when all the activity happens between Toddington and Winchcombe, which gave time to develop contingency plans - including new timetables and operating arrangements, with trains top-and-tailed and terminating at Gotherington.  Details are on this website.

IC: This has clearly put a lot of pressure on our volunteers…

MT: It has and I would like to acknowledge the amazing team spirit that has seen everyone pulling together to make sure that the show goes on.  It is bad news, but we definitely aren't downbeat - everyone has been positive in finding practical solutions.  We're still giving our visitors great value for money and already people are saying they enjoy the novelty of topping and tailing.  In fact for normal days, you get a longer train journey as each trip runs Toddington-Winchcombe-Gotherington-Winchombe-Gotherinton-Winchcombe and back to Toddington.  Four trips through the tunnel!

IC: What about GWR175?

MT: That show goes on, too.  We had an emergency meeting and it's clear that apart from the timetable and operating procedure, little else changes in terms of the attraction.  We're going to put on a fantastic show that really does do justice to the 175^th anniversary of the Great Western.  A dozen locos will be working - and a dozen more on display: where else can you find a show like that?  We are looking at additional local car parking and a bus service from Cheltenham for those coming by public transport.

IC: Back to the slip, what's happening on the site now?

MT: Our very capable properties director, Darren Fairley, is managing the investigation.  We've contracted engineers who are well known in the rail industry, and to our insurers, to carry out trial bores and surveys.  The full results aren't known yet, but it has shown that a large cavity has opened up within the embankment and over a much longer area than at first thought.  We think that there have been problems here through history, there's evidence of past repair work to the embankment in the form of rock baskets (gabions) in pace at the foot of the embankment.  The ground is naturally wet here while the geology on the Cotswold escarpment is a complex legacy of the Ice Age, which does produce ground movement.  It is likely that a combination of both has caused the problem, not helped by the exceptionally cold winter. 

What is important, though, is that the repair is carried out in a way that secures the embankment for good so that future generations can be confident that this won't happen again.  We are taking the best possible professional advice on modern (and efficient) techniques to stabilise the embankment, using experience gained with similar slips and geology elsewhere.   

IC:  These days, problems always seem to be 'someone's fault' - but you aren't casting any blame?

MT: No, absolutely not.  In fact it's worth repeating that there is no issue with the quality of our track work, the permanent way team have done an extraordinary job in developing and maintaining our ten miles of line to the highest standard.  It's a bit of an over-used term but:  "it's just one of those things" that from time to time affect railways up and down the country and I'm certain that this experience will give us valuable pointers towards maintenance of all our other embankments.

IC: When do you expect to get a full report into the extent of the damage and what needs to be done to repair the embankment?

MT: There is a lot of work still to do including a period of monitoring the movement, which by nature has to be given time.  This will build into a plan of action before any thought of moving the diggers in but I expect to be better informed within the next three weeks or so.  Tempting as it is, speculation isn't helpful - I'd rather be able to say exactly what's going to happen when we have taken all the professional advice we need.

IC: Is there any short term remedial action that could at least get trains going again over the affected piece of embankment?

MT: No - there is no quick fix.  Far better that we do the job properly and permanently, regardless of how long that might take.

IC: Have you had any indications of what it will cost?

MT: I'm not going to speculate here either - but it will be costly.

IC: Is it something that our insurers will contribute towards?

MT: I am in discussion with our insurers and they have are monitoring the progress being made by the engineers and consulting with them, but the short answer is, I don't know.

IC: Are there other sources for meeting the potential cost?

MT: There are, and so far I have approached more than a dozen potential funding sources, including possible European funding.  Many of these sources just don't have cash available; we are exploring possibilities with others.  We are also considering using a fund raising specialist to help explore potential sources of help.

IC: This isn't on the same scale as the Severn Valley Railway's experience following their 2007 flood damage but is there potential for a national appeal which was so successful for them?

MT:  There is and we are pulling into place a small working party to develop just such an appeal.  We will shortly start an appeal fund and I hope that supporters of the railway, including members and shareholders, will contribute.  This is OUR railway and if we can all pull together we can get the trains running all the sooner.  We have already had an approach from Steam Railway magazine asking how they can help spread the word in the railway community too.  The heritage railway movement looks after its own, the SVR experience proved that.  We are a much loved line and I'm sure that those who enjoy it, locally and nationally, will want to support what we are doing.  We'll publish more information about how people can help on this website soon.

IC:  Does this mean that other projects, like the Broadway extension, are on hold?

MT: Absolutely not.  Our sights are firmly set on Broadway, going over the viaduct during GWR175 is a fantastic demonstration of that determination.  The slip is an inconvenience that we have to deal with and certainly, our immediate priority is to get it sorted out.  But the work must go on - we are an expanding railway and we can't let this get in the way of our development.

IC: How can readers of this website and the public at large help?

MT: By buying a ticket and travelling on our trains!  You might not be able to board a train at Cheltenham Racecourse right now, but trains are running and visitors will still enjoy a fantastic and interesting day out.  It is frustrating that some people think we are closed completely but patently we are not.

IC: So business as usual…

MT: Most definitely, business as usual! 

Malcolm Temple is often at the railway and is always happy to have a chat.  If you have any positive thoughts or ideas click this link and let us know your views.