HEAVY rain has caused a landslip which is dangerously close to railway tracks. 

The incident, which happened on Monday, December 4, has led to the railway line between Salisbury and Exeter being closed. 

South Western Railway said that the line between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury would be closed until Sunday, December 10 to allow major engineering work to take place.

A post on X said: "Trains are being diverted and rail replacement buses are operating. Journeys will take longer so please check before you travel https://southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey." 

Meanwhile, Network Rail posted pictures showing the landslip. 

They added: "Please do not attempt to travel between #Salisbury and #Exeter St David’s on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December.

"There’s been a landslip at Crewkerne Tunnel, you can see below how close debris is to the track Please see @SW_Help for the latest travel updates." 

Salisbury Journal: Network Rail p[picture showing landslipNetwork Rail p[picture showing landslip (Image: Network Rail)

Replacement buses have also been affected by flooding on local roads. 

SWR advised passengers not to travel between Salisbury and Exeter.

Elsewhere on the railway, a crack in the line at Brockenhurst level crossing saw the line closed between Southampton and Bournemouth on December 5 before 8am as crews worked to replace 63ft of track. 

The line between Basingstoke and Woking was also closed on Monday, December 4 due to structural defects to a footbridge between Brookwood and Woking. A landslip on a 100-metre-long slope next to the St John’s Hill Road overbridge, between Brookwood and Woking in Surrey, has also affected the track. The track has been reduced to two lines from four and reduced speeds have been brought in, meaning only three trains will run per hour. 

Matt Pocock, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: "As a result, we are sorry to have to ask customers intending to travel on our services, between Woking and Basingstoke, to only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary, on Friday, December 8, Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10."