Vegetation management issues across the network?

[johnnychips]

Glyphosate can still be used.
I've used it on brambles, but you have to spray the leaves well whilst it's the growing season, & do multiple doses.
One quick pass with a weedkiller train isn't going to do it, it needs 2 slow passes in a week.

Coincidentally, I applied it on my drive a week ago, and the results were not impressive. I applied again two days ago and now it seems to be working. I wonder if the railways can apply a higher concentration than sold at Wickes?

 

[WesternBiker]

Coincidentally, I applied it on my drive a week ago, and the results were not impressive. I applied again two days ago and now it seems to be working. I wonder if the railways can apply a higher concentration than sold at Wickes?

Domestic weedkillers typically contain 1% glyphosate (10g/l), whereas commercial preparations go up to 49%. (I wonder what NR uses?) As option says, it only works on actively growing plants as it needs to be absorbed by the plant.

There's an interesting piece (here) about glyphosate on NR's site, describing its efforts at reducing the amount of herbicides used in vegetation management - as well as a link to the Varley review, which looked at balancing the needs of running the railway safely against the wildlife value. There's data on vegetation strikes, and how much is being spent over time on external contractors - showing clearly how little was spent in 2013/14.

 

[Skie]

Coincidentally, I applied it on my drive a week ago, and the results were not impressive. I applied again two days ago and now it seems to be working. I wonder if the railways can apply a higher concentration than sold at Wickes?

You were most likely being impatient. It takes over a week for the effects to become apparent, but when they do it‘s pretty dramatic.

 

[Annetts key]

Indeed. And dead brambles, if not cleared, also form a rather handy "trellis" for the next season's growth to attach themselves to.

And dead brambles are not nice if they attach themselves to you! Or any other worker trying to walk along the so called ‘cess path’…

 

[172007]

Domestic weedkillers typically contain 1% glyphosate (1g/l), whereas commercial preparations go up to 49%. (I wonder what NR uses?) As option says, it only works on actively growing plants as it needs to be absorbed by the plant.

There's an interesting piece (here) about glyphosate on NR's site, describing its efforts at reducing the amount of herbicides used in vegetation management - as well as a link to the Varley review, which looked at balancing the needs of running the railway safely against the wildlife value. There's data on vegetation strikes, and how much is being spent over time - showing clearly how little was spent in 2013/14.

So if I use 49 x the recommended dose I get a strong commercial weedkiller from Wickes et al

 

[M7R]

No that’s not how it works. If you read the back of the bottle it tells you the concentrate. “Strong” ones can be up to 5 or even 7% but they are expensive. I purchased the strongest concentrate you can for domestic use to help control some bamboo… it has to be diluted to work and slows the bamboo but it won’t stop it. Even this takes nearly a week to kill off some normal weeds as it has to be absorbed and work on them. If you just drown them in your weak solution… you will just have very wet weeds still coated with just 1% GS.

 

[D6130]

Glyphosate can still be used.

Unfortunately Glyphosate is extremely harmful - fatal, in fact - to bees and most international environmental campaigning organisations are trying hard to get it banned. I believe that it's already banned in many European countries.

 

[option]

Most effective way of getting rid of brambles i've found so far is to really cut them back to the ground, then if you can get to the root ball dig it out. Not having leaves stops a lot of growth.
Then any small bits that do still come up, spray those leaves with the weedkiller. It will take days for it to be absorbed down into the roots, & then the leaves will start to turn brown. A second good spray is usually enough to then kill it.
Areas that have been cleared you then cover. We've used cardboard & wood bark/mulch on top*. It stops most weeds from breaking to the surface, & if they can't get to light & produce leaves, they'll die.
*You can also use various geo-textiles & mulch on top.

Once cleared, you can grow stuff that will crowd out brambles etc.


Maybe an idea for NR? Find stuff to grow in those places instead of quick growing weeds.


Wonder if no longer discharging wastes onto the track will have an impact?

 

[Annetts key]

Wonder if no longer discharging wastes onto the track will have an impact?

Can’t see this making any significant difference. The discharge from trains was in the four foot. This was the most difficult place for vegetation to grow in the first place (on main lines).

And it’s not as if the discharge has only just stopped. Many trains have introduced over the last decade or more have had waste tanks.

And outside station areas (which could get extremely disgusting), when the train is travelling at speed, the discharge got spread over twenty to one hundred yards (estimated) depending on speed. So it would have been a very weak fertiliser.

The vegetation that does grow on the railway, is quite happy with the ground conditions, otherwise it would not thrive and spread so well.

And as I said earlier, the vegetation is worst on freight only lines where there was no passengers to flush the loo…

 

[Envoy]

If sprays are used and get wind blown onto land with public access, I hope people don’t go picking the blackberries! Perhaps warning notices should be placed?

I see that the Buddeias are now losing their flowers and turning to seed - thus multiplying the problem.

 

[WesternBiker]

Once cleared, you can grow stuff that will crowd out brambles etc.

Maybe an idea for NR? Find stuff to grow in those places instead of quick growing weeds.

I think that was part of the thinking behind the Varley report: active management of the vegetation "...the right vegetation in the right place". However, the report doesn't cost its recommendations, and it is not clear how practical this would be within the existing budget and available workforce. It strikes me that NR have enough on their plate even without the additional burden of becoming wildlife management experts.

 

[Annetts key]

Here’s some examples from a couple of years ago…

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Domestic weedkillers typically contain 1% glyphosate (1g/l), …..

Typo? 1% = 10g/litre

 

[WesternBiker]

Typo? 1% = 10g/litre

Thank you - yes, typo! (My maths really isn't that bad!) Now corrected.

On a separate note, I've noticed this summer the number of road signs partially or fully obscured by vegetation - particularly directional signs. So it seems it is not just the railway struggling to keep vegetation in check.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

On a separate note, I've noticed this summer the number of road signs partially or fully obscured by vegetation - particularly directional signs. So it seems it is not just the railway struggling to keep vegetation in check.

Or not bothering, for whatever reason (lack of manpower, shortage of budget, general incompetence?) Reported overhanging vegetation obscuring the sight lines along a single file, traffic-controlled bridge, some several weeks ago, and it hadn't been sorted last time I checked.

 

[Grumpy Git]

I made a return trip on the Crewe - Derby line a few days ago.

The weeds growing in the four-foot east of Stoke and almost all the way to Derby have to be seen to be believed.

 

[Six Bells]

I made a return trip on the Crewe - Derby line a few days ago.

The weeds growing in the four-foot east of Stoke and almost all the way to Derby have to be seen to be believed.

Its frankly disgraceful isn't it?

My box is on the Derby - Crewe line and I was speaking to a colleague the other day regarding lineside vegetation at his box; through our collective recollection (Admittedly unscientific) we can remember one visit by PWay this year for lineside vegetation treatment.

It has been a good year for growing conditions in fairness (My garden will attest to that) with hot periods generally followed up with wet spells, but that is no excuse for the lack of vegetation management.

 

[40129]

Can't remember what product it's for, but I keep seeing a TV commercial that seems to promote a buddlea epidemic