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Thursday 5 Sep 2024

Swanage Railway benefits from Network Rail weed-killer train

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail have been supporting the Swanage Railway, a heritage line in Dorset, by providing a Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) to help treat the railway and keep it weed-free

An MPV usually consists of a two-vehicle train which can be adapted to meet the requirements of the railway. MPVs can often be seen in Autumn equipped with high pressure water jets to blast leaves off the lines and where necessary apply a sand-like gel to help trains grip the rail better. In winter, the trains come out at night to de-ice the conductor rail if the temperature falls below five degrees.

In this instance, however, the train was deployed to treat the weeds around the railway. The MPV, operating out of Totton depot travelled down the South West Main Line via Wareham to the Swanage Railway to treat the line.

The MPV enabled Swanage Railway to efficiently treat and kill weeds growing along the five and a half miles of line, helping keep this heritage line free from weeds and running reliably for the thousands of visitors it welcomes each year.

This working came about through cooperation between Network Rail, Balfour Beatty and the Swanage Railway as part of a commitment to support this historic line.

Swanage Railway is a heritage railway attraction in the Isle of Purbeck on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast which operates full-size steam and diesel passenger trains from Norden to Corfe Castle and down to the Victorian seaside town of Swanage.

Network Rail works closely with these railways across the country providing a range of support from donating sleepers and other pieces of railway infrastructure, assisting with maintenance as well as many Network Rail staff volunteering their time to help with the running and operation of these important railway lines.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “We were delighted to support the Swanage Railway by providing a weed killing train to treat the surface around the railway. This success shows the strength of partnership working with both Balfour Beatty and the Swanage Railway and it is a relationship we intend to continue for a long time to come.

“Heritage railways are hugely popular tourist attractions and play an important role in celebrating and retaining the history of our amazing railway. As a rail industry we provide a range of support to help keep heritage railways running safely and reliably and many of our staff volunteer their time and expertise.”

Swanage Railway Company chairman and Swanage Railway Trust director Gavin Johns said: "We are very grateful for the collaboration of our valued partners - Network Rail and Balfour Beatty - in kindly providing this efficient and effective weed-killing train.

"Maintaining our track in a safe and useable condition is essential for our nine-mile heritage line and managing weeds that grow along the track is a key part of that activity as stone track ballast free of weeds enables water to quickly drain away.

"The MPV enabled the whole of the Swanage Railway to be treated in a few hours in a very effective and efficient way."

Gavin Johns is a volunteer signalman on the Dorset heritage line which has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976.