THE rail link between Newport and Gloucester is to be guarded against climate change thanks to a £25 million investment.

Network Rail has revealed details of a multi-million-pound plan to rescue a railway line increasingly ravaged by climate change and extreme weather.

The Newport-Gloucester line connects South Wales with the West Country, Midlands and north of England.

Running alongside the Severn Estuary - exposed to rain, wind and sea - more frequent extreme weather has seen the line devasted by five major landslips in the last two years.

This has led to extended closures and temporary speed restrictions, delaying more than 200,000 trains.

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As well as disrupting passengers, this also impacts freight services, with 43 freight trains passing through every week, moving steel, petrol, and construction materials. The route also serves ‘Tesco trains’, keeping supermarkets stocked with essential supplies.

With the long-term viability of the line at stake, Network Rail engineers have developed a multi-million-pound plan to the protect the railway’s future.

Work is due to begin in summer 2022 and will include the removal of more than 30,000 tonnes of material from the cliff face.

A mesh and bolt system will then be installed alongside three miles of track, stabilising the rockface and preventing landslips.

Bill Kelly, route director, Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “We’ve seen a huge increase in extreme weather events across our network in recent years.

"Climate change is happening here and now, and across Wales and Borders - from the Conwy Valley to the Welsh marches and Severn Estuary - we’re responding by building a more resilient railway.”

Sarah Kelley, CrossCountry’s West & Wales Regional Director said: “We know disruption to our passengers’ journeys is unwelcome and will work closely with Network Rail to ensure this is kept to a minimum while they complete this.”

James Price, Chief Executive at Transport for Wales said: “The storms and flooding we saw in 2020 were a powerful reminder of the growing impact of climate change on our transport network.

"We work very closely with Network Rail and it underlines the importance of their work to increase the resilience of the railway across Wales and Borders.”