Derailment fears over embankment rubbish

Fly-tippers throwing debris over railway wall could cause accident

Fly-tippers using a trackside embankment in Angus as a rubbish dump have sparked fears of a rail tragedy.

Building materials are being thrown down the steep embankment at Warddykes in Arbroath. Network Rail engineers will now carry out an inspection following concerns raised by anti-litter campaigners.

Vandals caused a potentially serious derailment of a passenger train at Inverkeilor in 2012 after an obstruction was put on the tracks.

Ralph Coutts from St Vigeans Conservation Network said: “It’s a matter of time before something is going to fall on to the tracks.”

Jean Stewart from Angus Clean Environments said: “We all despair when disaster strikes and know it should never have happened.”

Arbroath East and Lunan Conservative councillor Derek Wann said the fly-tipping could cause the “derailment of a train”.

Fly-tippers using a trackside embankment in Angus as a rubbish dump have been told they could cause a rail tragedy.

Building materials are being thrown down the steep embankment at Warddykes in Arbroath opposite a conservation area. The situation has been going on for months.

Vandals caused the derailment of a passenger train at Inverkeilor in 2012 after an obstruction was placed on the tracks.

Jean Stewart, from Angus Clean Environments, said: “The individual who dumped these materials is not just committing a criminal office but potentially placing rail users at risk.

“We all remember the recent derailment at Inverkeilor as a result of similar objects being on and close to the railway line.

“Network Rail have a duty of care towards the public and must take immediate action to identify the source of these materials and remove them.”

Arbroath East and Lunan Conservative councillor Derek Wann said: “We have recycling centres and they are well used, so why do a minority of people feel it necessary to dump rubbish sometimes at the side of railways and roads?

“This mindless fly-tipping could cause a serious car accident or derailing of a train.”

Ralph Coutts, from the St Vigeans Conservation Network, said: “The flytipping of building materials was first reported two years ago but still nothing has been done.

“It’s a matter of time before something is going to fall on to the tracks.”

A build-up of litter behind the signal box at Arbroath Railway Station was also described as “embarrassing”.

A Network Rail spokesman said each year 1,200 tonnes of litter is removed from the railway in Scotland.

He said: “Litter collection and flytipping uses up maintenance staff time that could be better spent on duties that would further improve the performance of our network and the service we provide the public.

“Our engineers will inspect the area and we are always available to work with local authorities to help address the causes of fly-tipping.”

gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

Pictures: Paul Reid. Ralph Coutts next to litter behind the signal box at Arbroath Railway Station.

Building materials dumped near the tracks.