Track and signalling

Local wildlife protection during Borders Railway construction

Borders Railway is working to protect the environment and local wildlife along the route, Network Rail has announced.

The project team is committed to minimising disruption of animal’s habitat during construction. Work so far has included providing alternative nest boxes for barn owls, protecting badger setts and ensuring construction does not interfere with otter’s breeding and resting grounds.

Network Rail also aims to appropriately manage protected plant species along the line.

Andrew Mitchell, project environment specialist for Network Rail, said: “An essential part of the re-development of the Borders Railway is to ensure that we are protecting species that have been integral to the Midlothian and Scottish Borders environment for many years.

“Although it is inevitable that a project of this scale will require some de-vegetation and other disturbance to make way for the new line, we are committed to working with SNH and SEPA in their regulatory capacity to make sure we work around important habitats and protected species or plants sensitively and, of course, appropriately.”

“While some construction works need to take place in the water, we are committed to protecting important aquatic plants like water crowfoot.”

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