Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what chemicals Network Rail use to prevent regrowth from the stumps of trees or bushes they have cut down.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail currently uses chemicals to prevent tree regrowth as well as other methods such as coppicing. Network Rail is also trialling grazing on a number of parts of the network to manage vegetation. The chemicals Network Rail uses on the rail estate for vegetation management are included in the table below.
| Location | Application method | Description | Active Ingredient 1 |
Non- water source protection area sites | On track | Handheld equipment | Total weed control – vegetation management of grasses and broadleaf weed species | Diflufenican Glyphosate Flazasulfuron Sulfosulfuron Flumioxazin |
Selective weed control – vegetation management of broadleaf weed species | 2,4-D Amine Triclopyr 2 Dicamba Glyphosate Max plugs 3 | |||
Rail mounted equipment | Total weed control – vegetation management of grasses and broadleaf weed species | Diflufenican Glyphosate Flazasulfuron Sulfosulfuron | ||
Flail strip and off track areas | Rail mounted and handheld equipment | Selective weed control – for vegetation control | Citronella Oil 2,4-D Amine Aminopyralid 4 Fluroxypyr MCPA Triclopyr 2 Dicamba Mecoprop P Glyphosate Max plugs 3 Glyphosate 5 | |
Identified water source protection area sites (unless identified as no spray) | On track | Handheld equipment | Total weed control – vegetation management of broadleaf weed species | Citronella Oil Glyphosate |
Selective weed control – vegetation management of broadleaf weed species | see note 1 | |||
Rail mounted equipment | Total weed control – vegetation management of grasses and broadleaf weed species | Glyphosate | ||
Flail strip and off track areas | Rail mounted & handheld equipment | Selective weed control – for vegetation control | Glyphosate 5 | |
Extra vulnerable water source protection area sites | No use of any herbicide is permissible unless prior permission and site-specific assessment has been agreed by all parties. An AqHerb01 Form is available from the Environment Agency to initiate this process. In Scotland herbicides can be applied near water to control invasive non-native species (INNS) under general binding rule 23 of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2022. Application of herbicide near water to control non-INNS requires a registration under the same regulations to be applied for, an application form is available from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. | |||
Notes: 1 Any active ingredient not listed requires prior permission and site-specific assessment agreed by all parties 2 Only as amine formulation and in mixtures 3 Stump treatment only 4 Not to be used within drip line of desirable trees 5 Spot application only | ||||
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on wildlife of Network Rail cutting down trees, bushes and hedges during nesting season, and what plans they have to end this practice.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government has not made an assessment of this. Network Rail has processes in place for managing tree removal around nesting season. In advance of any work there are, amongst other checks and surveys, specific checks to identify if there are any nesting birds within the vegetation Network Rail is planning to manage. Any identified or suspected nesting birds are left in situ and an exclusion zone created around them. Teams return after any chicks have fledged. If there are particular safety concerns with the vegetation, there are exemptions within the legislation which Network Rail could use following consultation with ecologists, lawyers and the British Transport Police.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of trees and bushes alongside railway lines that have been cut down in excess of that required to prevent trees falling on the lines.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government has not made an estimate of this figure. Network Rail must prioritise the performance and safe operation of the railway whilst also carrying out its activities in a way that minimises harm, and wherever possible improves the natural habitat. Trees are removed from beside the railway line for a number of reasons beyond the risk of falling on the line, including invasive species, pests or disease (such as ash dieback) and leaf fall.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide level access onto trains by acquiring level access rolling stock, raising platform levels or lowering trackbeds.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Level access onto trains brings a range of benefits and enables easier journeys for passengers with different access requirements. The government has committed to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure, which will look at and consider the issue of level access as part of this work.