Josh MacAlister MP has announced a major £60 million Network Rail investment to get Bransty Tunnel reopened and tackle the orange water flowing into Whitehaven Harbour, following two years of work to find a solution. It is believed to be the largest single emergency resolution delivered by Network Rail in the last decade.
A permanent water treatment system will be put in place to filter the discoloured mine water which has been entering the harbour via the tunnel for the last four years. This replaces an earlier option to divert the water out to sea via a new outfall which was explored but ultimately ruled out.
Alongside this, Network Rail will undertake a major engineering project to fill the old mine workings under the track which led to the closure of the tunnel last summer and replace 1km of track and ballast in the tunnel. This major upgrade will end years of underinvestment by previous governments which saw repeated tunnel closures due to flooding and trains limited to speeds of 5mph through the tunnel. The work should keep the tunnel open and trains running smoothly for the next 60 years.
Conversations are now underway between Network Rail and the Environment Agency to secure the necessary permissions for the work to begin and Network Rail are going through the process of getting contractors in place ready to get on site. The goal is for work to begin before the end of the year, although this is subject to confirmation. Once work begins, it is estimated to take between 9 and 15 months due to the complex nature of the repairs. We’ll know more once work begins.
The breakthrough follows sustained work led by Josh MacAlister MP, including leading the Whitehaven Harbour Task Force to bring together the organisations needed to resolve the problem, alongside work with government ministers to remove roadblocks, clarify responsibility and secure £60m of funding.
Finding a solution has been particularly challenging because of the complex interaction between the railway, the historic mine workings, water flows beneath the town and Whitehaven Harbour.
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“This is a huge breakthrough for Whitehaven and the whole Cumbrian coast. After two years of relentless work through the Harbour Task Force, with local partners and directly with ministers, we finally have a £60 million funded solution to tackle the orange water in Whitehaven Harbour and get Bransty Tunnel reopened so trains can run properly along our coast line again.
“This is an exceptionally complex engineering project and a huge amount of work has gone into getting us to this point. I want to thank Network Rail, government ministers, and everyone locally who has helped us reach this solution. I am now pressing for the work to begin as soon as possible.”
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State for Rail, said:
“This Labour government is building a railway that works for every community, so I’m delighted that Network Rail is investing to reopen Bransty tunnel and also clean up Whitehaven Harbour.
“This is testament to Josh’s hard work and determined campaigning on behalf of his constituents.”
The orange water started running into the harbour four years ago, damaging the appearance of one of the town’s most important assets and causing considerable frustration locally.
At the same time, the closure of Bransty Tunnel last year has prevented normal rail services from operating through Whitehaven, affecting passengers travelling along the Cumbrian Coast Line.
Josh has held multiple meetings with ministers across government departments and more than 20 meetings with local and national agencies over the last two years in order to secure this outcome.