Network Rail has announced that the Newquay rail line in Cornwall will remain closed until Friday, 13 December, as engineers carry out emergency repairs on a collapsed retaining wall near Pontsmill Viaduct.

The issue was discovered last week when engineers found that the retaining wall had fallen into the river below, displacing a significant amount of ballast, the stones that stabilise the tracks.


At the time of the discovery, the line was already closed for planned works as part of the Mid Cornwall Metro project, which were completed as scheduled on 1 December. The retaining wall failure and associated ballast damage are unrelated to the planned works.

Network Rail teams are now focused on repairing the wall and reinstating the ballast, with heavy equipment transported to the remote site. Ground surveys were completed earlier this week, and repairs are being carried out in collaboration with the Environment Agency due to the proximity of the river.

Passengers are advised that rail replacement services will continue operating according to the current timetable until the line reopens.