Retained cutting
A cutting is an excavation of earth material to lower the ground level to allow a railway to remain at the same level. Cuttings help to reduce noise and/or visual impacts associated with trains passing.
A retained cutting is a cutting which is constructed with additional structural support that allows a steeper overall slope gradient than would be naturally possible. This may be a partially-retained cutting, which would include an element of naturally supported slope (usually above the retained element) or a fully-retained cutting, which usually has vertical sides.
Ref The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement, Glossary of terms and list of abbreviations, DETR 2013.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bridge construction.
- Construction sidings
- Crossrail 2.
- False cutting.
- High Speed 2 (HS2).
- Infrastructure.
- Modern train stations.
- Railway engineering.
- Retained embankment.
- Road construction.
- Runway construction.
- The longest railway tunnels in the world.
- Transport design and health
- Tunnelling.
- Underpass construction.
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Dutyholder responsibilities from 1 July 2026.
Where performance meets practice
The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham.
CIAT publishes briefing on planning reforms.
Leaders in Learning for Practice Network
Call for conservation leaders in learning to register interest in new network.
The importance of early engagement
Construction lessons from the Trillium HealthWorks Experience Centre.
Mayors are to be given planning call in powers
Mayors across England will be able to make the most important planning decisions.
The Master Builder: William Butterfield and his times. Book review.
Why construction can't afford to ignore the skills gap.
Building Safety Regulator, 19 August
Gill Kernick appointed Independent Chair of Residents’ Panel.
Connecting knowledge, technology and conservation
Building competence for the future of built heritage.
Building Regulations and Building Safety Act
CIOB publishes free advice for non-domestic clients.
Building Safety Newsletter from MHCLG.