THE removal of 11 derailed train carriages left hanging over the River Great Ouse in Ely is due to be completed today (Thursday). The lift started on Tuesday, 30 days after the freight train carrying the carriages derailed. But Network Rail is still unabl

THE removal of 11 derailed train carriages left hanging over the River Great Ouse in Ely is due to be completed today (Thursday).

The lift started on Tuesday, 30 days after the freight train carrying the carriages derailed.

But Network Rail is still unable to predict how long it will be before the section of the river or the line will be reopened.

Spokeswoman, Kate Snowden, said: "It will be a matter of months rather than weeks before the work is complete."

Network Rail Anglia Route Director, Patrick Hallgate, said: "Our engineers have been working hard to get to this key phase of the recovery programme, but there is still a lot of work to do. The complexity of the situation means we do not yet have a reopening date for the line. We share passengers' frustration at disruption to their service and we promise to keep all those involved informed of the progress of the recovery.

"Once the lift is complete, we can get on with clearing the river, rebuilding the bridge and getting passenger and freight services back up and running as soon as possible."

The wagons are being removed by a 1,000-tonne train, assisted by two smaller 250-tonne cranes.

A 1.3km temporary road from the A142 to allow three cranes in to perform the lift.

The cranes Kwere placed on a 20,000-tonne secure platform, made of stone and plastic mesh, which has been positioned on the marshland.

Mr Hallgate said: "Building a 1,000-tonne crane platform on deep boggy marshland is indicative of just what a tricky engineering problem the incident has created."

n One Railway services between Liverpool Street and Peterborough will start and terminate at Bury St Edmunds. A bus service is in operation between Bury St Edmunds and Ely.

Passengers for through journeys via Peterborough are advised to use Ipswich to Cambridge services and Central Trains services forward to Peterborough. Journey times will be extended by up to 60 minutes. Ipswich to Cambridge trains are unaffected.