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Repair work began at the very end of December 2019 with the lifting of the track by a team of volunteers and paid staff. External contractors then removed the ballast and fill from the viaduct. After the infill was removed, the contractors improved the drainage channels and added a waterproof membrane, before putting everything back together. These works were essentially complete when interrupted in March by [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|coronavirus disease (COVID-19)]], although track was not joined and signalling not yet in place.
While the railway remained closed, the contractors began work on stage 2. Easing of lockdown restrictions allowed work on stage 1 to restart in the week of 19 June, with laying of rail completed on 25 June. The following day [[BR Class 50 50035 Ark Royal]] became the first train to cross the viaduct since December while delivering S&T equipment for the new [[Ground Frames at Foley Park|Foley Park ground frame]].<refname="bljul20">[https://www.svrlive.com/bljul20 Branch Lines, July 2020]</ref> Discovery of roosting bats held up repairs while a licence was obtained from Natural England to allow work to be carried out.<ref name="bljul20"/> Work recommenced in August<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljul20 blsep20 Branch Lines July newsletter, September 2020](Retrieved 29 August 2020)</ref>.
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