reddragon
Established Member
The running of a railway requires banks clear of trees. Until the end of steam these banks were grass with no trees due to fires. With the cuts after Beeching trees were forgotten and we learnt about leaves on the line.Generally, bare earth without vegetation is more prone to slipping - not only because the root system can hold things together, but also because the tree cover disperses rain more evenly and makes it less likely that channels will be gouged in the bank.
Personally I think the side with the trees is massively more attractive; the other looks awful. And as for opening up view for passengers ... not from down in a cutting like that! As a passenger, I like the attractiveness of tree cover in that sort of situation, as well as having longer distance views in places too.
It is a sad state of affairs if trees along railway line are the only trees we have left.
Trees on banks are a double edged sword. Their roots both hold the bank together and block land drainage that causes the slips, the vegetation both absorbs the rain but softens the soil causing slips and of course leaves on the line.
In the end, it is about running a railway.