A rail-side wonderland of trees spared the chop
sir – PJ Chippindale (Letters, May 16) supports the removal of rail-side trees to improve the view along Scotland’s railways.
A few years ago I travelled the same rail route from Glasgow to Oban between Christmas and New Year. Not only were the hills on the far side of Loch Lomond beautifully snowcovered, but the rail-side (leafless) trees were covered in Narnia-like frost, giving a wonderful vista both close up and at a distance.
Removal of these trees would have considerably diminished this winter spectacle. John Snook
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
sir – Network Rail takes its responsibility to manage the railways safely and to look after the habitats on our land very seriously. While these may seem like two conflicting roles, we don’t think they need to be.
With more than 20,000 miles of track and miles of trees growing along the railway, managing vegetation is hugely important to us. If this duty is neglected, trees and fallen leaves can pose a serious risk to the safety of passengers and staff. Despite our efforts, last year we still recorded more than 400 incidents of trains colliding with fallen trees and branches, and another 1,000 where fallen trees and branches caused delays to service, costing taxpayers over £100million.
As one of Britain’s largest landowners, we are mindful that local communities can have strong, sometimes differing views on clearing vegetation. We therefore have standards and policies in place that have been developed over many years with the help of experts.
These policies help to create different biodiverse rail-side habitats. These range from wildflower grasslands near the railway, which are perfect for insects and butterflies, to small fruiting bushes where birds can nest and find sustenance, through to taller trees at a safe distance from the railway that provide habitats for rodents and larger birds.
I can reassure readers that Network Rail has no massive nationwide tree felling programme. In an average year we remove around two to three trees per mile of track. The rest of our trees are monitored, but are mainly left alone for the enjoyment of all. Dr Neil Strong
Chief Arboriculturist, Network Rail London NW1