Media centre

Wednesday 10 Feb 2016

Network Rail makes plea to Oxfordshire residents not to dump rubbish on the railway

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Network Rail has had to spend £250,000 to remove 200 lorry loads of fly-tipped rubbish from the railway in Oxford.

In the St Peters Road area, between Oxford Parkway and Oxford station, 4,000 tonnes of waste were removed as work continues to link the two stations as part of the new Oxford to London Marylebone route.

The mammoth haul included:

• shopping trolleys
• asbestos roofs
• bicycles
• televisions
• gas canisters
• a trampoline

The railway is often seen as an easy target for litter and fly-tipping by members of the public and clearing up the rubbish costs Network Rail – and therefore taxpayers – hundreds of thousands of pounds every year that could otherwise be invested in improving the railway for passengers

Rob Mole, Network Rail programme manager, said: "Fly-tipping is not only illegal it blights the environment and poses a safety threat to the operation of the railway and our staff who maintain it. We have cleaned up the area of track which has been used by mindless fly-tippers and this will make a positive difference for local residents and people using the railway.

“We will always look to trace those responsible and will take action against them whenever possible. People should dispose of waste materials in the appropriate manner and not use the railway as a dumping ground.”

Fly-tipping on the railway is illegal and carries a fine of up to £1000. Anyone with information about the fly-tipping should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. To report flytipping on the railway contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.

ENDS 

 

Notes to editors

Fly-tipping is illegal and punishments on being found guilty can include any or all of the following:

• Fines that can be unlimited
• Prison sentences of up to 5 years
• Forfeiture of vehicles
• Reclaiming of clean up costs