An increase in extreme weather over the past two years has seen several washouts on the Marches Line in the UK, causing short notice closures of up to seven days. To minimise future disruption and delays, Network Rail engineers have installed half-a-mile of rock armour and refurbished culverts (under track drainage) between Hereford and Abergavenny; the same concept that has proved a huge success on a flood-prone stretch of railway in the Conwy Valley.