Reservists Lead Railway Repair Exercise In North Yorkshire

A specialist team of reservists have been leading an exercise in North Yorkshire to repair parts of a railway line.

Members of 507 Specialist Team Royal Engineers have been repairing a section of the Wensleydale Railway as part of Exercise Turnout.

Captain Richard Ollerenshaw said the railway is a "secondary route" which was "probably laid around 60 years ago".

He told Forces News: "We're going to be replacing them [the tracks] with new, heavier rail and with concrete sleepers, which should see this section of railway certainly through my lifetime."

The reservists are repairing 450 metres of track which requires 1,000 tonnes of materials - something that is not easy with no rail or road access.

For the soldiers, it is important to complete the work as soon as possible as it is used by freight trains to transport armoured vehicles into the British Army's Catterick Garrison.

Major Alex Hamilton told Forces News: "The Wensleydale has Redmire railhead, which is great utility to the Army.

"We're able to bring in armoured vehicles off the East Coast Main Line and deliver them to Catterick Garrison, right at the heart of it."

He added: "The delivery of 22 Warriors by rail is about £18,000 to Dover. If you were to do it by truck it would cost about £90,000.

"So, there's a great utility using rail for long haul."

Many of 507 Specialist Team Royal Engineers work for Network Rail as part of their civilian roles.

The exercise gives them a chance to share their expertise with other Armed Forces personnel.