Media centre

Tuesday 19 Sep 2023

Railway vegetation clearance planned between Lamberton and Reston

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail will begin tree and vegetation management on the East Coast Main Line between Lamberton and Reston.

Work to clear trees and vegetation from adjacent land along a seven-mile stretch within the railway boundary will take place between Wednesday 20 September and the end of March 2024.

It’s all part of efforts to keep passengers and lineside neighbours safe while keeping trains punctual.

Engineers will work around-the-clock to clear woody material from the outside rail to the boundary while treating noxious and invasive non-native weeds within the railway corridor.

Trees within falling distance of the railway will be selectively felled or cut-back and heritage, landscape or specimen trees will be retained where it is safe to do so.

Kirsty Armstrong, project manager for the vegetation management 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.

“Through the management of lineside trees and vegetation, Network Rail aims to protect the safety of the operational railway line. This keeps passengers and lineside neighbours safe.

“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 will do what they can to minimise this. 

“We want to thank passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience and understanding during the work.”

If not managed well, trees and fallen leaves can pose a risk to the safe running of the railway, can cause delays to trains, and can be a risk to neighbouring properties.

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

Those living closest to the line have been advised about the work by letter with a FAQs section. This anticipates and responds to many of the concerns people have raised when similar work has been completed 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.