Along a seven-mile stretch of line Network Rail engineers will work around-the-clock to clear trees and vegetation from adjacent land within the railway boundary between Wednesday 20 September and the end of March 2024.
Work will also be carried out to clear woody material from the outside rail to the boundary while treating noxious and invasive non-native weeds within the railway corridor. Trees within falling distance of the railway will be selectively felled or cut-back and heritage, landscape or specimen trees will be retained where it is safe to do so.
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Project manager for the vegetation management work, Kirsty Armstrong, said: "Network Rail manages thousands of miles of trees and vegetation along the railway to ensure that everything which grows lineside is safe and does not cause delays to trains.
"Through the management of lineside trees and vegetation, Network Rail aims to protect the safety of the operational railway line. This keeps passengers and lineside neighbours safe.
"Elements of this work are unavoidably at night for safety reasons, however, the teams are always mindful of the impact their work may have and will do what they can to minimise this.
"We want to thank passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience and understanding during the work."
Ahead of the work, environmental surveys have been carried out and the area has been inspected for nesting birds and protected species. Network Rail has also worked with ecologists to minimise the impact of the work on the environment.
