Application made for repairs to crack in Glenfinnan Viaduct

An application has been made by Network Rail to carry out temporary repair work on the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

 

The application, filed to the Highland Council on July 28, was made by Fraser MacKenzie on behalf of the rail network and asks for an external temporary brace to be installed to the A listed, 122-year-old viaduct after cracking appeared above one of the concrete arches, or 'spans'.

 

Supporting documents submitted with the application describe a vertical fracture that is 1420mm x 25mm open with spalling 80mm wide and 130mm deep. The vertical fracture runs off a horizontal fracture, while the additional concrete support lintel is also fractured and displaced. Network rail first noticed the cracking in November 2022.

 

It is estimated the brace would be required for eight to 10 years, and installation would involve securing a metal bracket, roughly 2m in length, to the north side of the viaduct. The option to fit a temporary brace was deemed preferable to any rebuilding at present as a complete refurbishment of the viaduct is due at a later date.

 

The application is still pending, with Network Rail expecting a determination to be made around the end of September.

 

Alan Ross, director of engineering and asset management for Scotland's Railway, said: “The viaduct is an iconic landmark which attracts visitors from across the world, so we’ve worked hard to develop a solution which protects the structure while minimising the visual impact of our work.

 

“We explored a range of options to address the repair, and the bracket we will install offers the best technical and visual solution that can be delivered in a way that will not disrupt passenger services on the line.”

 

The Glenfinnan Viaduct became a major tourist attraction after its appearance in the first Harry Potter film in 2001. According to National Trust Scotland, the Glenfinnan Monument, a prime site for visiting the viaduct, received 230,000 visitors in the first six months of 2023.

 

In June a summit was hosted by Kate Forbes MSP to help Glenfinnan, which has a population of approximately 150, deal with the volume of tourists.

 

Viewing the application for repair work can be done via the Highland Council planning page using reference number 23/03631/LBC.