Teams work through night to fix rail track
Engineers are continuing to work overnight to repair 300 yards of embankment following the derailment of a freight train over a week ago.
Ten wagons, carrying hundreds of tonnes of stone, came off the track near Barrow upon Soar station early on Thursday, December 27.
The accident temporarily closed the East Midlands mainline.
Local trains are still being disrupted and services to and from Barrow have been replaced by buses.
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Network Rail said it hoped the work would be completed over the weekend, for normal services to be resumed by 6am on Monday.
Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: "I apologise to all those who have been inconvenienced by this work and thank passengers for their continued patience.
"Removing the wagons safely is a complex job and this location is not easily accessible, all of which has added to the time it has taken to complete.
"We have worked through the night in order to minimise the effect upon passengers and expect to complete the removal of the wagons on Saturday night.
"Final repairs to the track and embankment will then be completed as quickly as possible."
It is believed the landslip was caused by the heavy rainfall in recent weeks.
Workers have used stone from the crashed train to repair the 20ft-high Victorian embankment which collapsed.
Extra loads of stone were scheduled to be imported by train yesterday evening and tonight to complete the rebuilding work.
Most of the derailed wagons have been recovered, with two left.
A Network Rail spokesman said: "We are using stone from the derailed train to rebuild and we ordered 20 wagons carrying 35 tonnes for Thursday night and 15 wagons carrying the same amount for Friday.
"Two breakdown trains have been working in tandem to lift the wagons – that is why there is a need to close all lines while this activity is being completed.
"This has been done through the night so not to disrupt services."
The accident occurred at 5.30am and involved a train carrying 1,000 tonnes of quarry stone from Derbyshire to Ely, in Cambridgeshire.
No one was injured in the incident.
Paul Lillie, manager of the nearby Pillings Lock Marina, said: "I am sure it was the high levels of floodwater that occurred towards the end of November which led to the embankment being damaged.
"We have been here for six years and have never seen water levels like it.
"It is very fortunate that the accident did not involve a passenger train.
"Workers have been on site around the clock and trains have been passing the site very slowly as the repairs continue."
The incident has been reported to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
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