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Friday 12 Jul 2024

Railway vegetation clearance planned between Faskally and Pitagowan

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail will shortly begin tree and vegetation management on a 9-mile stretch of the Highland Line.

Work will take place within the railway boundary and on adjacent land between Faskally and Pitagowan from Monday 15 July until the end of March next year.  

The work is needed to keep passengers safe and trains punctual and to reduce the risk for lineside neighbours.

Engineers will be working both day and night to clear woody material in a 6m section between the outside rail and the boundary.

They’ll also treat noxious and invasive non-native weeds within the railway corridor while selectively felling and cutting back trees close to the track.

Heritage, landscape and specimen trees will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be retained where it is safe to do so.

Rochelle McAllister, scheme project manager, Network Rail, said: “We manage 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, we aim 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”.

Ahead of the work, environmental surveys have been carried out and the area has been inspected for nesting birds and protected species. We have also worked with our ecologists to minimise the impact of the work on the environment.

Those living closest to the line will be advised about the work by letter with a FAQs section which anticipates and responds to many of the concerns people have raised when we have carried carry out this type of work in other areas.

If anyone has any questions or concerns about this work they can contact Network Rail’s 24hr National helpline on 03457 11 41 41.