Media centre

Tuesday 21 Aug 2018

Public information event to discuss vegetation management work between London Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Network Rail is inviting residents to find out more about upcoming vegetation work on the railway between London Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill.  

Vegetation management work is due take place along a seven-mile stretch of the Network Rail main lines from the beginning of September 2018. Residents are invited to attend a public information event to find out more about the activity, meet the project team and understand how the work might affect them.

Every year there are increased instances of trees and branches blocking or closing lines and disrupting passengers’ journeys. Work will involve keeping clear any vegetation on railway land within six metres of the railway. This will include removing problematic leaf fall species and trees on railway land that are tall enough to fall into the path of a train or strike critical railway infrastructure.

The event is being held on Wednesday 22 August 2018 between 4pm and 7pm at Kingsgate Community Centre, (Small Hall) 107 Kingsgate Road, London, NW6 2JH

Stephen Cooper, infrastructure maintenance protection coordinator for Network Rail said: “Vegetation management is an essential part of railway maintenance and this work is crucial to keeping both trains and passengers safe on the network.

“We are aware of the impact that removing trees and vegetation can have on local communities which is why we want to discuss with local people what our plans are and why. I would encourage anyone who has an interest in what we are doing to come and talk to us.”

Network Rail always carry out an ecological survey before beginning work and any protected species or nesting birds are identified and appropriate methods of working are put into place.

Wherever possible, work will take place during daytime hours from Monday to Friday from September 2018 until March 2019. However, some work will be required to take place at night when train services are not in operation – this work is due to take place each Saturday night from Saturday 1 September to Saturday 1 December 2018, between 11.59pm and 7.30am. We will keep lineside neighbours updated as the work progresses.

For further information contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 03457 114 141 or visit www.networkrail.co.uk/vegetation.