Rising sea level threatens U.K. coastal rail lines
Andrew McNaughton, Network Rail’s chief engineer: “The effects of climate change, and in particular sea level rise, are likely to increase the severity of the wave, tidal and wind effects on coastal defenses”
Flooding caused by storms is not the only threat to U.K. critical infrastructure (see HS Daily Wire of 3 July 2008). U.K. authorities are also worried about the threat posed by rising sea levels. Research conducted by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) could give Network Rail a better indication of the impact of high sea levels on coastal train lines. Working with the Environment Agency and using data from the Met Office Hadley Center, RSSB modelled predictions of the effects of increased wave heights and storm surges on coast defenses, using the length of railway at Dawlish in Devon. “The effects of climate change, and in particular sea level rise, are likely to increase the severity of the wave, tidal and wind effects on coastal defenses,” said Network Rail’s chief engineer, Andrew McNaughton. “This research aims to put us in a stronger position, to be able to quantify those effects and so consider future strategies. Network Rail is using the results of the study to inform its specific feasibility study into the reconstruction of the sea wall at Dawlish, the results are due in the autumn.’
More information about the research can be downloaded from the RSSB Web site.
