Media centre

Tuesday 13 Nov 2007

KEEPING THE RAILWAY CLEAR ALONG THE SNOW HILL LINE

Region & Route:

To ensure the safety of the railway for train services and employees, Network Rail will this week embark on a programme of trimming trees, branches and undergrowth alongside the railway between Birmingham Moor Street and Leamington Spa. Overhanging branches and undergrowth within 6 metres of the railway will be carefully removed to ensure train drivers are able to have a clear view of the signals. Chris Rowley, Network Rail Area General Manager for the West Midlands explained: “Trees and undergrowth alongside the railway needs careful management to allow trains to run safely. As well as the risk of branches falling onto the tracks, unmanaged vegetation can prevent train drivers seeing signals and put our track workers at risk. Network Rail take’s its environmental responsibilities seriously and we will only remove the minimum amount of vegetation required to ensure the safe running of trains along this busy route.” The work is part of Network Rail’s £75 million programme to improve the railway along the Snow Hill line by renewing the signalling and improving parts of the track. The project will be completed early next year when the railway between Birmingham and Leamington Spa will close between 9–18 February 2008 and engineers test and switch on the new signalling equipment. Network Rail will work with train operators to ensure passengers are informed of alternative travel arrangements.