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Railway vegetation clearance planned between Evanton and Invergordon


By Federica Stefani

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Network Rail will shortly begin overnight tree and vegetation management on the line between Evanton and Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands.
Network Rail will shortly begin overnight tree and vegetation management on the line between Evanton and Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands.

VEGETATION management works will be running along an Easter Ross railway line this month.

Network Rail has announced that they will shortly begin overnight tree and vegetation management on the line between Evanton and Invergordon.

Between June and September work will be carried out along an eight mile stretch of the Far North line to clear trees and vegetation from adjacent land within the railway boundary. This is needed to keep passengers safe and trains punctual and to reduce the risk for lineside neighbours.

From June 13 for around 16 weeks and working both day and night, the team will clear a three-metre strip from the outside rail to the boundary. It will also treat any noxious and invasive non-native weeds within the railway corridor.

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.

“Through the management of lineside trees and vegetation, Network Rail aims 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."

Other trees within falling distance of the railway will be selectively felled or cut-back to leave a well-balanced tree canopy. Any heritage, landscape specimen trees will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be retained where it is safe to do so.

Ahead of the work, environmental surveys have been carried out and the area has been inspected for nesting birds and protected species. Network Rail also said they have worked with their 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.

Anyone with questions or concerns about this work can contact Network Rail’s 24hr National helpline on 03457 11 41 41.


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