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Monday 22 Aug 2022

Overnight traffic management needed to enable tree cutting on Far North Line

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Overnight traffic management will be in place from September 4 to 9 on the B817 in Alness and Evanton in the Scottish Highlands as Network Rail carries out essential vegetation management.

Work has been ongoing along an eight-mile section of the Wick line since June to clear trees and vegetation from land adjacent to the railway.  The project’s aim is to keep passengers safe, trains punctual and to reduce the risk for lineside neighbours.

In order to continue to deliver this work safely, Network Rail now needs to put in place a two-way traffic light system overnight between 9pm and 7am for 5 nights but this will not involve any roads or paths being fully closed during this time.

As well as the traffic management, tree cutting will also be carried out adjacent to the foot and cycle path on various dates between Evanton and Skiach Services. The cycle path (National Cycle Network Route 1) will remain open at all times and signage will be deployed to inform cyclists and other path users when work on land adjacent to the cycle path is taking place.

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.

“Work has been ongoing in the area since June and it has been progressing well with minimal disruption.  The next phase of this work brings us close to the road which means that we have to put in place overnight traffic management to continue to work safely.

“Similarly, we are working close to the path used by walkers and cyclists and so to avoid the need to close this completely, we will have signage in place to alert people to the work when it is happening and ask them to follow guidance to allow them to proceed safely through the area.

“We apologise for any inconvenience and thank people for their patience and cooperation as we carry out this work”

People can visit the Scotland’s Railway (https://scotlandsrailway.com/managing-trees-and-vegetation-in-your-area) web pages to find out more information about lineside tree and vegetation management.  If anyone has any questions or concerns about this work, they can contact Network Rail’s 24hr National helpline on 03457 11 41 41.