Vegetation growing out of control?

[Starmill]

For which you have presented the solution yourself:

So spend part of the year keeping vegetation down, the rest cleaning up.


Buddleia is not one of them. Nor are the trees/shrubs growing in the ten foot near here which are getting quite mature now.


I can believe it. I remember BTP being involved when an allotment holder was aggressive towards staff felling lineside trees.


When it gets to the point that a driver considers it reportable, it tends to be far below the minimum sighting requirements.

More multi-operable teams like that could potentially be a useful way forward. Of course they would probably require bigger budgets to get efficiency out of them.

 

[londonmidland]

Looks like services to Southend are being disrupted due to a tree leaning on the overhead gantry. Possibly caused by some of the heavy showers we’re having today.

Because of a tree that is leaning close to the overhead line in the Billericay area, towards Southend Victoria, the line is blocked as a precautionary measure and to allow access for Network Rail response team to investigate and remove the tree.

Picture shows a tree resting on the overhead gantry structure.

 

[bahnause]

Certain people / groups don't seem to understand the issues vegetation can cause, and seem to want Network Rail to treat it as a habitat alongside the railway purpose - something to be curated and carefully managed rather than removed/hacked away.

You might want to tell this SBB:

Biodiversity

Biodiversity.​

The strips of nature along the side of transport infrastructure provide habitats for animals and plants. SBB is committed to protecting them.
Through its existing railway infrastructure, real estate and further planned construction projects, SBB contributes to the loss, qualitative degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats. This poses a threat to the native flora and fauna of Switzerland.
However, SBB also owns a green corridor of national importance for biodiversity in the form of railway embankments. Through these embankments, SBB provides valuable habitats with a high level of biodiversity and plays a key role in habitat connectivity. SBB will contribute to Switzerland’s ecological infrastructure by maintaining one fifth of its embankments in a near-natural state by 2030 and ensuring the connectivity of animal habitats along and across the railway lines at various locations. The company supports native and sustainable species in protected forests and security strips and combats invasive neophytes, therefore taking proactive steps to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Embankment maintenance.​

As part of the Confederation’s Biodiversity Action Plan, SBB also ensures site-appropriate upkeep in nature conservation areas. In future, SBB will also maintain 20% of embankments in a near-nature state, as well as preserving and promoting their ecological potential. Instead of mulching, these areas are mown and the cuttings are collected so that the lean environment is not enriched with nutrients and connectivity can be promoted. Access to these areas and the removal of the upkeep waste pose particular challenges.
SBB regularly maintains embankments and areas of woodland along the rail network to ensure services run safely and with minimum disruption. This involves cutting back the trees and shrubs which line the tracks, regularly mowing embankments and removing invasive plant growth. Maintaining these areas is a never-ending task that also benefits nature. This periodic maintenance has produced graduated forest margins and boundary structures – these are valuable, extensive habitats which are rich in plant species.

Flora.​

SBB’s dense rail network is fringed with many hundreds of kilometres of species-rich embankments, forest margins, hedges and individual trees. This ecological network within a densely used landscape provides habitats for various plant species, some of which are rare.
Some railway embankments are home to rare plant species such as orchids, which demonstrates their ecological importance. The rare military orchid (Orchis militaris) thrives on a few sections of embankment along the rail network. Embankments are important sites for rare plants, as they are not subject to agricultural use and neither herbicides nor fertilisers are used. That has a positive impact on plants like the military orchid which like hardy environments.

Fighting invasive neophytes.​

Invasive neophytes pose a problem for native flora and can also have an impact on the safety of railway operations. Due to their strong growth, they displace the native flora and can affect the stability of railway embankments and streams.
SBB is fighting invasive neophytes on its embankments in accordance with SBB Infrastructure’s strategy. Priority is given to species that pose a risk to health, infestations relevant to railway safety and neophyte control on ecologically valuable areas (protected areas, biodiversity areas and replacement areas). SBB is also actively involved in research into effective, herbicide-free methods of controlling neophytes.

Fauna.​

Many railway infrastructure facilities such as green station roofs, embankments or forests are home to a great wealth of different animal species, such as the protected asp viper, palmate newt or the appolo butterfly. However, our dense transport infrastructure also cuts across animals’ habitats. This isolates populations and leads to a decline in animal numbers.
SBB is therefore connecting divided habitats and enhancing them, for example through the following projects:

 

[renegademaster]

You might want to tell this SBB:

Biodiversity

That's what the PR says , but looking at the example they use for the photo, it isn't exactly the most forested, they've mown or strimmed that embankment, more than what NR would do

 

[bahnause]

That's what the PR says , but looking at the example they use for the photo, it isn't exactly the most forested, they've mown or strimmed that embankment, more than what NR would do

A rough meadow like the one in the picture should also be mowed at the beginning or the end of summer. This is important in order to maintain biodiversity. This is a targeted approach, not aimless cutting back at any given time.

 

[Ken H]

Nobody has mentioned roots getting into culverts. And also into underground pipework there to carry cables.

 

[Bald Rick]

I’ve done a lot of travelling on our roads around the country in the last couple if weeks, and the amount of foliage on verges, hedges and obscuring signs is easily the most I’ve ever seen.

On the basis that it is unlikely that NR and every highway authority has decided at the same time to do less vegetation work, my hypothesis is that it has been a particularly string growing season (as it has been very warm and wet, on average) and the high rainfall is weighing the vegetation down.

 

[30907]

I’ve done a lot of travelling on our roads around the country in the last couple if weeks, and the amount of foliage on verges, hedges and obscuring signs is easily the most I’ve ever seen.

On the basis that it is unlikely that NR and every highway authority has decided at the same time to do less vegetation work, my hypothesis is that it has been a particularly string growing season (as it has been very warm and wet, on average) and the high rainfall is weighing the vegetation down.

That concurs with my thought as I drove back from Haworth to Shipley this afternoon (not to mention the evidence of my garden!).

 

[renegademaster]

NR and every highway authority have the same problem of wages , especially for lower end jobs, being a lot higher and their budgets being the same

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There should have been one of those scenarios where Network Rail top executives in that organisation are forced to answer questions on vegetation control put to them by a cross-party section of Members of Parliament.
Preferably televised at peak viewing times.

 

[Bald Rick]

There should have been one of those scenarios where Network Rail top executives in that organisation are forced to answer questions on vegetation control put to them by a cross-party section of Members of Parliament.
Preferably televised at peak viewing times.

What sort of questions? I’m not sure that Government would like the answers….

 

[Peter Sarf]

I’ve done a lot of travelling on our roads around the country in the last couple if weeks, and the amount of foliage on verges, hedges and obscuring signs is easily the most I’ve ever seen.

On the basis that it is unlikely that NR and every highway authority has decided at the same time to do less vegetation work, my hypothesis is that it has been a particularly string growing season (as it has been very warm and wet, on average) and the high rainfall is weighing the vegetation down.

As a gardener things I don't want are growing better and better year by year !. This "summer" my vegetables have been really slow to get going.

I think the way our climate is going we need to do more to make sure established weeds are eradicated yearly as they now have a bonanza in their subsequent years. For annuals (growing from seed) the priority is to get those weeds out before their flowers create seeds. These seeds are what will be next years weeds. More flowering weeds this year means even more weeds starting to grow next spring for next year !.

I suppose the message is that if we do not keep on top of weeds they will thrive and get harder and harder every year. It is evident that weeds have the upper hand on the railways and highways. This is becoming more evident with our wetter and milder winters.

 

[D6130]

The other invasive weed which is rapidly overwhelming the railway infrastructure in the North of England is Himalayan Balsam - with the tall stalks and long leaves....and pretty pink flowers containing seed pods which go 'pop' and the seeds are swept along the track in the slipstreams of trains. Incidentally, I'm told that those seeds are edible by humans and highly-nutritious. Apparently some people mix them into their salads.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What sort of questions? I’m not sure thst Government would like the answers….

I did mention the term "cross-party" in my posting.

 

[Bald Rick]

I did mention the term "cross-party" in my posting.

Yes, but my point is that regardless of what questions ate asked, the answers will point in one direction…

 

[Krokodil]

I’m not sure that Government would like the answers….

Governments seldom like being held to account so there's nothing new there.

As a gardener things I don't want are growing better and better year by year !

Tell me about it, I'm drowning in weeds. And slugs...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Governments seldom like being held to account so there's nothing new there.

Do you think tht a change of Government will lead to a change of Governmental thinking on the topic of the subject of this thread?

 

[Bald Rick]

Do you think tht a change of Government will lead to a change of Governmental thinking on the topic of the subject of this thread?

Governement don’t think about this subject, so i think it’s unlikely…

 

[Krokodil]

Do you think tht a change of Government will lead to a change of Governmental thinking on the topic of the subject of this thread?

It'll probably take a serious incident to focus minds. We've already had the collapses at Northwich and Nine Elms, plus some nasty collisions with trees. Maybe it'll need someone to be killed before anything gets done.

 

[Peter Sarf]

It'll probably take a serious incident to focus minds. We've already had the collapses at Northwich and Nine Elms, plus some nasty collisions with trees. Maybe it'll need someone to be killed before anything gets done.

I cannot help thinking it is more likely perception will see out of control vegetation on the highways as a problem worth sorting before railways are considered due to the number of impressed voters generated.

Looking at it another way -
The railways have vegetation as a problem which will merely be seen as one of THEIR problems
BUT
Vegetation out of control on the highways will more likely be perceived as a problem the NATION has so will get a budget.....

 

[Bikeman78]

As a gardener things I don't want are growing better and better year by year !. This "summer" my vegetables have been really slow to get going.

I am glad it is not just me. This year the home grown veg has been very slow to get going. Spinach non existent and tomato plants still tiny.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2024 ==

It'll probably take a serious incident to focus minds. We've already had the collapses at Northwich and Nine Elms, plus some nasty collisions with trees. Maybe it'll need someone to be killed before anything gets done.

At which point, all hell will break loose. 150245 hit a tree on the Fishguard line a few years ago. The line was then closed for a month whilst Network Rail removed dozens of trees. See report below.

Train collision with tree near Spittal, Pembrokeshire, 17 October 2019

www.gov.uk

 

[Taunton]

I cannot help thinking it is more likely perception will see out of control vegetation on the highways as a problem worth sorting before railways are considered due to the number of impressed voters generated.


Vegetation out of control on the highways will more likely be perceived as a problem the NATION has so will get a budget.....

There have actually been serious accidents on main roads attributed to vegetation mismanagement. The grass landscaping at corners and junctions is known technically to road engineers as "visibility splays", and designed as such, to be seen across. Rather like railways expecting the view of signals to be kept clear.

This significant inside of a bend on the main A303 road in Andover, Hampshire, where traffic sometimes queues back, can be seen if you work through the Google history to be clear in 2009, substantially overgrown in 2016, and cut back again in 2021 following criticism after an accident. Though more recently it seems forgotten, and overgrowing again.

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Horizon22]

Delays are already increasing as a result of vegetation issues - e.g. cautioning due to obscured signals - so there is a practical element to this, but as @Bald Rick says there's only going to be one answer on the resolution...

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

A rough meadow like the one in the picture should also be mowed at the beginning or the end of summer. This is important in order to maintain biodiversity. This is a targeted approach, not aimless cutting back at any given time.

I have recently been following coverage of the two main cycling stage races held in Switzerland each year and it is impossible to avoid coming to the conclusion that the Swiss have a strong national compulsion for tidiness. Even in deeply rural areas there is no question of small roads being invaded or obscured by vegetation. Verges are very obviously maintained meticulously and the same goes for railway boundaries. While Switzerland is well known for its relative affluence compared to just about everywhere else it's still clear that the will exists to ensure that the wider environment is carefully managed.

As stated in multiple posts the key is to "nip the problems in the bud" ie deal with potential problems while they are still small. It does require an ongoing commitment to maintaining a particular standard of appearance. And that includes finding the money to pay for it.

 

[Taunton]

Breaking the responsibilities down by task instead of by geography is questionable. Now there's a vegetation management team presumably nobody else thinks to touch vegetation. Time was when the ganger and team were responsible for a section - their section - and did everything in there; track, fencing, all. There was a formal competition between them for whose section looked the best, judged by the Chief Civil Engineer coming round in the inspection saloon. Very specialist stuff like the weedkiller train was still managed overall, and they did overtime elements on one another's section for larger weekend jobs.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

On the side of the raft over the Brighton side of Victoria station, a small tree is growing out the side of the building...

 

[Krokodil]

I am glad it is not just me. This year the home grown veg has been very slow to get going. Spinach non existent and tomato plants still tiny.

Count yourself lucky that you're not a farmer, whose income is dependant upon the weather. One well-known farm shared an aerial image today of a field with many bare patches, caused by too much rain drowning the crops.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

Breaking the responsibilities down by task instead of by geography is questionable. Now there's a vegetation management team presumably nobody else thinks to touch vegetation. Time was when the ganger and team were responsible for a section - their section - and did everything in there; track, fencing, all. There was a formal competition between them for whose section looked the best, judged by the Chief Civil Engineer coming round in the inspection saloon. Very specialist stuff like the weedkiller train was still managed overall, and they did overtime elements on one another's section for larger weekend jobs.

And time was you could wander around the railway and work. Those days are gone. The biggest issue now for all trackside work is access.

 

[Taunton]

And time was you could wander around the railway and work. Those days are gone. The biggest issue now for all trackside work is access.

It seems extraordinary that the ORR never seem to have thought of this before imposing restrictions. Time was when on main lines trains used to slow to 20mph past works in hand. Despite no end of modern technology, seemingly not felt possible now.

 

[zwk500]

It seems extraordinary that the ORR never seem to have thought of this before imposing restrictions. Time was when on main lines trains used to slow to 20mph past works in hand. Despite no end of modern technology, seemingly not felt possible now.

Why do you presuppose that if the ORR had considered the issue, they'd have agreed with you?
Slowing to 20mph would not be practical on many lines, such as those running at 125mph or those with trains every 2 to 3 minutes and Technology isn't foolproof or immune from failure.