Rail services on the Hudson Line between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon in Westchester County, New York, were disrupted for more than a day following a landslide which covered the tracks on Saturday 21 October 2023. The landslide occurred after a period of heavy rainfall in the area. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
Landslide expert Dave Petley of the University of Hull has examined images of the landslide, and in his Landslide Blog written that the landslide appears to have been caused by the failure of a retaining wall above the track, parts of which can be seen lying on the track following the landslide. This wall appears to have been used to create a flat garden area upon the hill above the track, with a filling behind is made up of soil and debris from the levelling of the ground behind, and appears to have failed when this soil became waterlogged, either due to poor planning or poor maintenance.
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