Do TOCs receive compensation for tree swipes?

[Grumpy]

Travelling to Morecambe yesterday I noticed the 158 received several swipes from overhanging trees north of Skipton.
The returning 158 had the carriage windows open, presumably the air con not working. Shortly after Carnforth there was more swiping but this time some leaves landed on the table in front of me.
Safety aspects aside, this sort of thing cant be doing much for the train’s paintwork etc.
Does Network Rail have to compensate TOCs in these cases?

 

[The Planner]

Travelling to Morecambe yesterday I noticed the 158 received several swipes from overhanging trees north of Skipton.
The returning 158 had the carriage windows open, presumably the air con not working. Shortly after Carnforth there was more swiping but this time some leaves landed on the table in front of me.
Safety aspects aside, this sort of thing cant be doing much for the train’s paintwork etc.
Does Network Rail have to compensate TOCs in these cases?

If its proven that NR is at fault, then yes.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, and it keeps a few people busy in various finance departments.

 

[brad465]

I wouldn't be surprised if GWR get compensated for this on the Dartmoor line; the foliage along this route is bad enough that when the windows are open, leaves and other bits of tree debris enter the carriages.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Yes, and it keeps a few people busy in various finance departments.

For ‘nationalised’ and ‘integrated’ operations such as ‘Anglia’, ‘Southeastern’ and ‘SWR’ (or whatever they’re called) can we assume that this particular source of ‘friction’ is turned off, even if the offending vegetation is still spoiling the new GBR vinyls?

 

[The Planner]

For ‘nationalised’ and ‘integrated’ operations such as ‘Anglia’, ‘Southeastern’ and ‘SWR’ (or whatever they’re called) can we assume that this particular source of ‘friction’ is turned off, even if the offending vegetation is still spoiling the new GBR vinyls?

The money still needs to come from somewhere to fix the damage, if it becomes wooden dollars then its still something that will happen.

 

[MCR247]

For ‘nationalised’ and ‘integrated’ operations such as ‘Anglia’, ‘Southeastern’ and ‘SWR’ (or whatever they’re called) can we assume that this particular source of ‘friction’ is turned off, even if the offending vegetation is still spoiling the new GBR vinyls?

But you still need to monitor the costs, frequency etc. otherwise you end up with a TOC spending way more on fixing damage than it’d cost for NR to cut the trees just because no one realised.

 

[Bald Rick]

For ‘nationalised’ and ‘integrated’ operations such as ‘Anglia’, ‘Southeastern’ and ‘SWR’ (or whatever they’re called) can we assume that this particular source of ‘friction’ is turned off, even if the offending vegetation is still spoiling the new GBR vinyls?

I imagine that it will be turned off yes.

But you still need to monitor the costs, frequency etc. otherwise you end up with a TOC spending way more on fixing damage than it’d cost for NR to cut the trees just because no one realised.

In GBR there is no TOC or NR, it will get managed within the Opersting department

 

[35B]

In GBR there is no TOC or NR, it will get managed within the Opersting department

There are still budgets within large single organisations, and managers responsible for them. I think we'll see some kind of process whether we like it or not

 

[43096]

If its proven that NR is at fault, then yes.

Yes, and it keeps a few people busy in various finance departments.

Examples, please.

Because from where I am sat it is "in theory yes". In reality no-one knows of any organisation that has successfully claimed.

 

[dk1]

No idea whether any money changed hands but when the Stadler fleet started to take over here in East Anglia all us drivers were asked to report any swipes or those that potential could cause damage. Another problem that was noticed early on was low hanging trees which although not great had never caused any undue issues to most branch lines, except both routes to Yarmouth which regularly saw 86s & 90s dragged in Summer, was damage to the expensive equipment & pantographs on the 755 units when operating in diesel mode.

 

[The Planner]

Examples, please.

Because from where I am sat it is "in theory yes". In reality no-one knows of any organisation that has successfully claimed.

I doubt you'll find anyone sharing claims panel information on here.

 

[Bald Rick]

Examples, please.

Because from where I am sat it is "in theory yes". In reality no-one knows of any organisation that has successfully claimed.

I won’t go into detail of any specific claims, but I know of multiple claims that have been paid out for this reason. One of my close friends used to be the Claims Manager for a Regional finance team and personally managed the process. Similarly infreight with veg strikes on new cars for delivery…

 

[172007]

This thread overlaps the state of Class 172's thread. The class 172 fleet when viewed up close has masses of small patches all over and the vinyls are so heavily scratched that many look more like gouges. Some have damage runnin the entire train lengh and appear to have actually marked the windows.

 

[johntea]

Noticed the same issue myself on the Leeds - Sheffield via Castleford route the other week, although I somehow doubt Northern will bother claiming for a few scratches on their 42 year old Class 150s

I guess it is quite hard to keep greenery trimmed down especially in this warm weather and when it goes on for miles and miles, I find it hard enough keeping up with the grass in my back garden! (although thankfully the gardeners agreed to do it now for an extra few quid and a few more cups of tea!)

 

[Falcon1200]

I won’t go into detail of any specific claims, but I know of multiple claims that have been paid out for this reason.

I certainly recall, as a Controller in Scotland, more than once, after the first luxury train tour of the spring had run, its operator reporting to us in great detail where the lovely paint on their stock had been scraped and scratched by vegetation, and their intention to submit a claim. How far the claim actually went was beyond our knowledge or control.

 

[Krokodil]

Because from where I am sat it is "in theory yes". In reality no-one knows of any organisation that has successfully claimed.

While I can't see the passenger TOCs bothering, but I can imagine the likes of LSL wanting to claim for damage to their paintwork.