Bolton to Manchester Victoria

[tadhatter]

Some serious investment taking place along this route.
However, it also has a serious problem with Japanese Knotweed! In places it encourages way over the trackbed and in between the rails. I'm sure that this is potentially a very serious problem as the root systems are notoriously hard to kill off and can wreck building foundations. Doesn't look like a weedkiller train has been along it for ages!

 

[Magicake]

It has spread like crazy over the last few months - been springing up all the way along the cess and as you say even in the four foot. I suspect that despite their best efforts the large number of track workers there at the moment may have been spreading it..

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Some serious investment taking place along this route.
However, it also has a serious problem with Japanese Knotweed! In places it encourages way over the trackbed and in between the rails. I'm sure that this is potentially a very serious problem as the root systems are notoriously hard to kill off and can wreck building foundations. Doesn't look like a weedkiller train has been along it for ages!

Conventional glyphosate type weedkiller doesn't have any effect on it - it requires special treatment, normally cut and burn the foliage with chemical pellets being injected into the trunk to kill off the roots.

NR are out and about in the area dealing with it at the moment - can't remember where but I've seen contractor signs somewhere in the area.

 

[Howardh]

An old train covered with it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallopia_japonica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallopia_japonica#/media/File:Fallopia_overgrows_train.jpg

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Conventional glyphosate type weedkiller doesn't have any effect on it - it requires special treatment, normally cut and burn the foliage with chemical pellets being injected into the trunk to kill off the roots.

NR are out and about in the area dealing with it at the moment - can't remember where but I've seen contractor signs somewhere in the area.

Keep an eye out for it near to or on your own property. It can cost mega bucks to clear, and severely devalue property.
Glyphosate type weedkiller such as commercial Round-Up can be used. Cut it to the ground, then burn or allow to dry out. (Take great care not to move or spread it - classed as "controlled waste") Wait for it to regrow, and when it starts to turn from red to green - the plant is using maximum energy hit it with glyphosate type weedkiller. It can take 2 years to kill it, and the rhizomes can be dormant for 5 years. Less than 1/2 an inch can grow into a new plant. The seeds are sterile as there are no male plants in this country.

 

[Phil from Mon]

However, it also has a serious problem with Japanese Knotweed! In places it encourages way over the trackbed and in between the rails. I'm sure that this is potentially a very serious problem as the root systems are notoriously hard to kill off and can wreck building foundations. Doesn't look like a weedkiller train has been along it for ages!

My wife's aunt is having huge problems selling her house as the Cambrian Coast Line adjacent is infested and NR won't do anything about it. Natural Resources Wales won't take enforcement action, and it's now with the local Assembly Member to see if he can help.

 

[tadhatter]

Keep an eye out for it near to or on your own property. It can cost mega bucks to clear, and severely devalue property.
Glyphosate type weedkiller such as commercial Round-Up can be used. Cut it to the ground, then burn or allow to dry out. (Take great care not to move or spread it - classed as "controlled waste") Wait for it to regrow, and when it starts to turn from red to green - the plant is using maximum energy hit it with glyphosate type weedkiller. It can take 2 years to kill it, and the rhizomes can be dormant for 5 years. Less than 1/2 an inch can grow into a new plant. The seeds are sterile as there are no male plants in this country.

Yes it's a long process but if the plants are sterile then heaven help us should we ever get a male plant as it seems to be spreading like wildfire in our towns and cities as it is!