Tree management

Ecological railway management planned between Evanton and Invergordon

Network Rail have begun a tree and vegetation management project, operating on the line between Evanton and Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands, with works taking place overnight.

The upcoming works will take place between June and September, seeing workers operating along an 8 mile stretch of the Far North lin. The planned works will seek to clear trees and vegetation from the adjacent land within the railway boundary, which will keep passengers safe and trains punctual whilst reducing the risk for lineside neighbours.

Starting from the 13th June, a team will be working day and night to carry out the requisite clearances, with a duration of around 16 weeks to clear a 3-metre strip from the outside rail to the boundary. De-weeding will also be imperative as the workers will need to treat noxious and invasive non-native weeds within the railway corridor.

The tree maintenance could slow proceedings down as any heritage, landscape specimen trees will need to be carefully considered for felling on a case-by-case basis and be retained, if safe to do so. The other trees, within a falling of the railway will be cut-back or felled entirely to leave a tree canopy that will not disrupt the natural aesthetic around the line.

Kirsty Armstrong, Scheme Project Manager for the vegetation clearance work said,

“Network Rail manages thousands of miles of trees and vegetation along the railway to ensure that everything which grows lineside is safe and does not cause delays to trains.

“Through the management of lineside trees and vegetation, Network Rail aims to protect the safety of the operational railway line. This keeps passengers safe and reduces risks for lineside neighbours.

“Elements of this work are unavoidably at night for safety reasons; however, the teams are always mindful of the impact their work may have and do what they can to minimise this. We want to apologise in advance if anyone is disturbed by the work

Before these works began, extensive environmental surveys were carried out in the area that also saw inspections for nesting birds and other protected species. Environmental impacts from these types of projects can be damaging, so Network Rail worked alongside ecologists to minimise these potentially damaging works.

Input from local communities is important when conducting projects such as these to ensure public support and for companies to understand the least intrusive forms of conducting necessary works. With this in mind, those living closest to the line have been advised about the work by letter with a FAQs section which anticipates and responds to many of the concerns people have raised.

Want to know more about the opportunities to become a key supplier to the UK rail industry? Attend TransCityRail and access an exclusive marketplace of buyers from Network Rail, HS2, Train Operators, Major Contractors, and all other tiers of the supply chain. For more information and to secure your place click here

 

 

RTM

RTM Dec 23/Jan 24

Battery Powered Rail on Merseyside

This issue highlights the latest topics within the rail industry, from how the HS2 decision affects rail freight to the draft rail reform bill.                            

Videos...

View all videos
TransCityRail Banner

TransCityRail

Mids \ 29 02 24
South \ 11 07 24
North \ 07 11 24

TransCityRail is a series of regional, interactive and insightful events across the country bringing together leaders, collaborators, problem solvers and innovators in a creative and invigorating way.
 

This series of events supports and informs the whole of the rail industry and connects suppliers with buyers, specifiers, leaders and decision-makers looking to procure a wide variety of innovative products and services for their region.

11/07/24

TransCityRail SOUTH

The South of England accounts for a significant portion of the UK’s rail investment strategy and is home to 7 sub-national transport bodies that have all placed rail infrastructure at the centre of their strategic investment plans.

Every year industry leaders from Network Rail, HS2, Train Operators, major contractors and transport bodies converge at the TransCityRail SOUTH conference, exhibition and networking dinner for a day of collaboration, conversation and engagement.

At this year's event, we're discussing...

More articles...

View all