londonmidland
Established Member
Today, I noticed just how much vegetation we have growing across the rail network.
Well used lines have grass and weeds growing through the ballast. I noticed on several journeys I took today, bushes were scraping against the side of the train in multiple locations. These being around Manchester and Nottingham, some of several locations recorded which has this issue.
We’ve had above average rainfall for several months now, as well as a mild winter, which have no doubt contributed to the early and rapid growth of vegetation and foliage.
What can Network Rail do to mitigate this problem? I understand there are strict rules and regulations in regard to which chemicals are allowed to be used, due to environmental concerns. This will have an impact on effectiveness when tackling weeds and vegetation.
Well used lines have grass and weeds growing through the ballast. I noticed on several journeys I took today, bushes were scraping against the side of the train in multiple locations. These being around Manchester and Nottingham, some of several locations recorded which has this issue.
We’ve had above average rainfall for several months now, as well as a mild winter, which have no doubt contributed to the early and rapid growth of vegetation and foliage.
What can Network Rail do to mitigate this problem? I understand there are strict rules and regulations in regard to which chemicals are allowed to be used, due to environmental concerns. This will have an impact on effectiveness when tackling weeds and vegetation.