THE West Somerset Railway (WSR) suffered a "significant embankment slippage" two miles north of Bishops Lydeard towards Crowcombe Heathfield.

Although the track and formation were unmoved following the incident last Tuesday (December 20), two private gardens were damaged.

The issue is being blamed on rainwater run off from a nearby field, which has led to the A358 at Combe Florey being closed three times this year while mud was cleared from the road.

Following the pre-Christmas incident, the railway line was closed to avoid any possible risk.

The Winterlights and Santa Special trains were diverted to a new route from Bishops Lydeard up to the blockage and then down to Norton Fitzwarren, and back to Lydeard.

All trains were fully operational again by Thursday (December 22).

WSR general manager Kerry Noble said: “Our aim was to make sure that none of our passengers were disappointed and, as a result of the really outstanding effort of our staff and volunteers, we were able to put in place a revised route which offered the same extremely popular seasonal experience.”

A detailed engineering assessment has taken place and Somerset Council is working with the farmer to reduce the fundamental problem.

It is envisaged WSR contractors will need up to six weeks to undertake the necessary embankment rebuilding and reinforcement.

Jonathan Jones Pratt, WSR chairman, said: “This embankment slippage is potentially a serious problem.

"Operation of our scheduled trains between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead would not normally start until the end of March, so we very much hope the line will be fully open by then."

He added: "Railway civil engineering is expensive and, at the moment, we are unclear how the work will be funded, although we anticipate some compensation.

"Even with all the support we have, it is likely that we will have to appeal to our supporters – the railway does not have large financial reserves."

Frank Courtney, director, said: “We are hoping that the embankment work can be completed before the start of the new running season in the middle of March.

"However, we are developing a contingency plan, should this not be possible, so that trains can start to run on the available railway at the earliest possible time.

"We have in any case been reviewing our entire commercial approach because we recognise that in the current national financial situation, we have to make sure we have – in addition to our existing tickets - a range of offers for people to travel with us at realistic cost.

"We will, in any case, be freezing the price of our popular advance purchase on line tickets."