Technology for vegetation control

Mona Sihota, Technical Head, Drainage and Lineside, Network Rail

London Section online meeting

This meeting is now online only due to the impending train strikes.

Synopsis: Since the introduction of diesel and electric trains, the lineside fire risk created from steam trains has almost disappeared. Whilst initially that was a positive safety consequence, vegetation and trees continued to grow. Network Rail now faces a 30-year-old weed problem which is affecting the safety and operational performance of the railway. The number of tree incursions per year is showing a general trend of rising. This trend is influenced by more extreme and adverse weather events, including heat waves. In addition to climate change challenges, Ash Dieback is spreading throughout the lineside estate with no available cure. Asking our frontline staff to increase their inspections and maintenance of the vegetation and trees is not a realistic or viable solution. We just don’t have enough Off-Track teams to manage the demand. This is where we are looking to technology to support our identification and prioritisation of work in a balance to manage safety, performance and environmental requirements.

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+44 20 3321 5213,,579639369#   United Kingdom, London

Phone Conference ID: 579 639 369#

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