Retained embankment
In relation to railways, an embankment is an area of artificially raised ground, commonly made of earth material, such as stone, on which a rail track is laid.
A retained embankment is an embankment which is constructed with additional structural support (usually in the form of a retaining wall) that allows a steeper overall slope gradient than would be naturally possible. This may be a partially-retained embankment, which would include an element of naturally-supported slope (usually above the retained element) or a fully-retained embankment, which usually has vertical sides.
Ref The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement, Glossary of terms and list of abbreviations, DETR 2013.
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