NR 'Secretive' Tree Felling

[68000]

What competency does Mr Walton have to question the legitimacy of the tree felling work?

 

[InOban]

There's another active thread on the underutilisation of our rural/scenic railways, many of which lost their views as the line became a tunnel of trees...

 

[tomatwark]

A lot of these trees which have a appeared since the end of steam, will be things like Silver Birch which has a natural life span of between 60-80 years so is getting close to its full life span and will increasingly be of greater risk of falling onto the track, as it dies off.

 

[squizzler]

The sage continues:

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...new-800m-scheme-to-remove-all-leaf-fall-trees

Network Rail is to target all “leaf fall” trees for removal alongside its tracks in a new £800m five-year programme of “enhanced clearance”, according to an internal document seen by the Guardian.

The policy document for 2019-24 emerged as the environment secretary, Michael Gove, summoned the chief executive of Network Rail for talks over their approach to environmental management following revelations about tree felling across the country by the Guardian.

I look forward to Modern Railway's Ian Walmsley (who regularly bemoans lineside tree growth) writing to the editor on this matter, and set them straight, in his own inimitable style!

 

[driver_m]

Gove : I must protest about the unecessary felling of so many trees, i agree it's a problem to stop the trains in leaf-fall, but..
Carne : Chris Grayling told us to use the wood to power the trains using an alternative source..
Gove (putting head in hands) : Fine.... Keep chopping, I'll go back to Westminster, (hums 'wake me up when it's all over' to himself.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Gove : I must protest about the unecessary felling of so many trees, i agree it's a problem to stop the trains in leaf-fall, but..
Carne : Chris Grayling told us to use the wood to power the trains using an alternative source..
Gove (putting head in hands) : Fine.... Keep chopping, I'll go back to Westminster, (hums 'wake me up when it's all over' to himself.

I love it !

The sage continues:

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...new-800m-scheme-to-remove-all-leaf-fall-trees

I look forward to Modern Railway's Ian Walmsley (who regularly bemoans lineside tree growth) writing to the editor on this matter, and set them straight, in his own inimitable style!

Indeed - if it is as brilliant as his "Japanese Not Wired" I will enjoy that read immensely .

 

[Jonny]

I think the nesting bird issue may be somewhat over-blown; after all it is not too hard to check trees for nests and merely avoid those trees affected (until later in the year).

 

[HSTEd]

There's another active thread on the underutilisation of our rural/scenic railways, many of which lost their views as the line became a tunnel of trees...

The rural railways are almost certainly never going to be used as scenic attractions based on their views - we do not have the kind of terrain that the Glacier Express makes use of.

They are means of transport to nice places, and that is about the best we can hope for.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Well it's gone up the ladder to the Rail Minister now, who has pronounced:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...s-review-of-tree-cutting-alongside-rail-lines

A review of Network Rail’s tree cutting and vegetation management has been announced by Rail Minister Jo Johnson.
The Rail Minister has asked Network Rail to suspend all felling during the current bird nesting season, except where safety critical.
The review will consider how Network Rail can best ensure the safety of our railways, while also protecting wildlife and preserving trees

It isn't critical of Network Rail, but it wouldn't have reached this stage if there was no concern.

One thing I have noticed recently is the heavy de-greening of electrification routes in the north west.
Some of this is entirely understandable to keep vegetation away from the OHLE, but it has been severe in places (eg at Clifton between Salford and Bolton, and before that in Olive Mount cutting (Liverpool).

 

[driver_m]

Olive Mount really does need to be fully cleared though. It's already had one wall collapse along there some years ago, and no doubt will happen again if the greenery is allowed to continue unchecked .

 

[YorkshireBear]

I feel sorry for the guys trying to balance safety against environmental issues. My experience of NR de-vegetation is that the ecology searches beforehand are very thorough and everything is undertaken by the book.

 

[squizzler]

I just watched the latest episode of Channel 5's Paddington Station I recorded from earlier in the week. Amongst other things it featured the aftermath of a 125 striking a tree on the line during Storm Eleanor. It was a real mess with the fibreglass nosecone all beaten up and the windscreen smashed. The instrument panel inside the cab was apparently damaged but the camera didn't show inside. The train had to reverse with all its passengers about 20 miles on the wrong road with all the inconvenience that caused. Thankfully one media outlet is educating the public why trees and the railway don't mix.

The railways are much more vulnerable than roads to trees on the line, trains cannot stop before impact or manoeuvre round any obstruction. Only instance the train user has the advantage over motorist is if you are actually under the tree as it falls.

 

[yorksrob]

I feel sorry for the guys trying to balance safety against environmental issues. My experience of NR de-vegetation is that the ecology searches beforehand are very thorough and everything is undertaken by the book.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I was quite surprised to see the level of tree removal around the junctions west of Mirfield recently.

One would hope that a good thickness of low level vegetation develops for interesting wildlife such as slow worms etc

 

[YorkshireBear]

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I was quite surprised to see the level of tree removal around the junctions west of Mirfield recently.

One would hope that a good thickness of low level vegetation develops for interesting wildlife such as slow worms etc

That is all for the site and ground investigations for Transpennine Rail Upgrade, rather than a specific de-veg.

 

[yorksrob]

That is all for the site and ground investigations for Transpennine Rail Upgrade, rather than a specific de-veg.

Ah thanks, that's interesting to know.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Do I understand correctly that the nationwide clearance announced this week really does mean all the linesides on all the routes? 100% of them?

 

[furnessvale]

Do I understand correctly that the nationwide clearance announced this week really does mean all the linesides on all the routes? 100% of them?

I thought I read somewhere that it represented 13% of lineside trees.

 

[The_Engineer]

The rural railways are almost certainly never going to be used as scenic attractions based on their views

I would beg to differ. As someone who used railways a lot in the early 70s, when I did an all line rover over some of my old rural favourites the whole experience was ruined by running in a green tunnel. In some cases the trees were actually scraping the sides of the trains. My main enjoyment when travelling by train was the wonderful views you could enjoy. I always took in the view.

Railway embankments are not the place to be growing forests. There are many practical reasons this should not be so, besides the view. The sooner the better they clear them all - and keep them clear.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I would beg to differ. As someone who used railways a lot in the early 70s, when I did an all line rover over some of my old rural favourites the whole experience was ruined by running in a green tunnel. In some cases the trees were actually scraping the sides of the trains. My main enjoyment when travelling by train was the wonderful views you could enjoy. I always took in the view.

Railway embankments are not the place to be growing forests. There are many practical reasons this should not be so, besides the view. The sooner the better they clear them all - and keep them clear.

Absolutely spot on posting, I just cannot understand all the objections to what Network Rail are doing, it really seems that whatever way they choose they can't do right for wrong!

 

[B&I]

What specific plants can be grown on the cleared linesides to prevent re-growth of unsuitable trees (and prevent soil erosion, where necessary) ?

 

[HSTEd]

I would beg to differ. As someone who used railways a lot in the early 70s, when I did an all line rover over some of my old rural favourites the whole experience was ruined by running in a green tunnel. In some cases the trees were actually scraping the sides of the trains. My main enjoyment when travelling by train was the wonderful views you could enjoy. I always took in the view.

Perhaps that was the case then, this is (perhaps unfortunately, perhaps not) not the case now for the majority of passengers, and certainly not for the majority of the population.

Now railways are merely a means to travel from point A to point B.

Railway embankments are not the place to be growing forests. There are many practical reasons this should not be so, besides the view. The sooner the better they clear them all - and keep them clear.

Railway embankments are not popular as it is - removing the thing that makes them bearable to many people in the areas of the railways is not a good plan - given the enormous amount of taxpayers money expended to keep the railway operating - despite a common reluctance amongst the railway industry to embrace innovations to reduce costs etc etc. [And no, I don't want to engage in an argument about that at the moment! But that is the public's perception]

The benefits of not having trees and such on the embankments have to be weighed against the costs of not having them on the embankments - and I think the benefits are not worth the cost.

PR is important, and things like this and the use of Class 37s belching stinking black smoke to haul trains around the network do not do good things for the railway's image.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I thought I read somewhere that it represented 13% of lineside trees.

That's interesting, because some reports have specifically mentioned "20,000 route miles" which sounds like pretty much the entire network.

So presumably the truth is half way between; it's 13% of the trees but from across the full network?

 

[furnessvale]

That's interesting, because some reports have specifically mentioned "20,000 route miles" which sounds like pretty much the entire network.

So presumably the truth is half way between; it's 13% of the trees but from across the full network?

I would assume that the most serious pruning will coincide with areas of greatest leaf fall problems.

 

[68000]

The annoucement was only for England and Wales

 

[InOban]

Indeed. NR in Scotland will be increasing their spend on this. It is quite clear to them that the biggest obstacles to meeting their targets during autumn and winter are leaf fall and blown trees.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Out of sheer and utter boredom, I wonder if Buddleia Davidii could be classified as the national symbol of Network Rail, noting the vast number of specimens that are allowed to flourish in all parts of the British rail infrastructure?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Out of sheer and utter boredom, I wonder if Buddleia Davidii could be classified as the national symbol of Network Rail, noting the vast number of specimens that are allowed to flourish in all parts of the British rail infrastructure?

Japanese Not Wired

 

[Bald Rick]

Do I understand correctly that the nationwide clearance announced this week really does mean all the linesides on all the routes? 100% of them?

Absolutely not.

 

[jamesst]

You can guarantee the same people that want lineside trees protected will be the same people whinging when leaf fall season starts and demanding something is done about it. What a crazy country.

 

[td97]

The review launched by the not-to-be-missed Jo Johnson has apparently been completed. I haven't yet come across the report, but the Guardian* is reporting
"not my news source of choice

An independent review into the scale of tree felling by Network Rail is calling for a complete cultural change by the company to focus on valuing nature and the environment.

The review, published on Wednesday, was sparked after Guardian articles highlighted a threat to millions of line-side trees from Network Rail’s approach to managing the environment around its tracks and the scale of tree felling taking place in nesting season.

The review said Network Rail had failed to take into account accepted environmental best practice with the trees and vegetation alongside its 20,000 miles of track. It said the company had to institute a complete cultural change, make a commitment to improving biodiversity and realise that the safety of the railway would not be compromised by better protection of the environment.

The Department for Transport issued statements in advance of the full publication of the report.

The rail minister, Andrew Jones, called on Network Rail to produce an action plan in six months to spell out how it would protect biodiversity and avoid excessive tree felling in the nesting season next year.

“The thousands of miles of line-side vegetation and wildlife on our rail network are valuable assets which need protection because of the environmental benefits they bring,” said Jones. “This is about cultural change across the whole network.”

But the Woodland Trust, which has pushed for Network Rail to pull back from the scale of tree felling it carries out, particularly in the nesting season, called for the government to fast track implementation of the recommendations. The charity said the government should create enforcement powers to make sure the rail company made the required changes to its approach.

“The report is unapologetic in highlighting the significant problems currently experienced in Network Rail’s approach to line-side vegetation management,” said Nick Atkinson, senior conservation adviser for the charity. “Its conclusion that Network Rail does not take in to account accepted environmental best practice throughout all its estate is alarming, and urgently needs addressing.

Network Rail is not obliged to follow the recommendations in the review unless the government takes up the call by the Woodland Trust to create enforcement powers.

The review was commissioned by Jo Johnson, then rail minister, earlier this year after Guardian revelations that Network Rail was considering a draft five-year plan to remove all leaf-fall species along its tracks.

The rail firm said it had not adopted the plan that outlined an “enhanced clearance” of line-side vegetation.

Last spring, tree felling across the country in the nesting season led to criticism from the public in several areas.

The chair of the review, John Varley, an experienced land manager, said the environment along the railway lines had evolved over decades. “If laid out end to end, it would stretch over halfway around the circumference of the earth,” said Varley. “This is a valuable and nationally important natural asset … my review’s recommendations should lead to a significant improvement in the environmental impact of the railway.

“The time is right for Network Rail to not only be one of the safest railways in Europe but the greenest, too, by valuing nature and providing a railway for people and wildlife.”
Network Rail owns 6m trees and 13m trees are within falling distance of its tracks, some on third-party land and some alongside the rail lines. It cuts down about 1,000 trees a week, according to its own figures.

Last year, there were an estimated 1,500 incidents of rail disruption due to trees and bad weather.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said an action plan would be developed over the next six months to deliver the recommendations. “We will also improve the way we operate to better protect nesting birds, ready for next year’s breeding season,” said Haines.

What is so difficult to understand about trees and the trackside being completely mutually exclusive? How many more trains need to collide with fallen trees, or bring the OLE down, how many more delays due to '''leaves on the line" are required before someone at DafT realises this. NR is not an environmental charity or cause and has more worthwhile things to spend it's budget on than tree hugging.