Kitchen Garden Forum

My plot backs onto a railway embankment which is clogged with all kinds of brambles and weeds. Much of the bramble undergrowth is dead and would catch alight relatively easily if someobody tossed a cigarette butt in it from a passing train. Have any of you had any success in getting Network Rail to clear embankments because of potential fire hazards?

If they're as successful at land clearing as they are at running a railway service I suspect you won't have much satisfaction. The problem will probably be tracking down the individuals/department responsible in such a large anonymous organisation.
Sounds like a possible for school volunteers in the holidays, or some other kind of local community project.Perhaps if you raise your concerns with the local Fire Brigade, they might be able to use their influence in getting the undergrowth cleared, although I suspect that after July 1 the fire risk may be reduced, with smoking banned in public places. (Isn't smoking already banned on public transport?) I understand your concern though. In a hot dry summer, even a piece of broken glass can catch the sun, act as a magnifying glass and trigger a fire in places where there is dry tinder.

I would think the railway company prefer having a barrier that stop access to the railway line rather that worry about a zillion to one chance of a disguarded fag end causing a fire, on the other hand look and the benefit to wildlife from this nature reserve.

I'm afraid I agree with Paul, Barry. Bush fires are pretty much unknown in Britain and the edges of railway lines are wildlife havens.
Is there any kind of barrier to stop them encroaching on the plots? I'd be more worried about this aspect of the problem.
I love looking at allotment plots when going on train journeys. I was reading somewhere that they were originally owned by the railways and provided as part of the job for workers.

The allotments near to Cheshunt Railway Station on the London Liverpool Street to Cambridge line had a similar problem.

Then there was a fire, now there is not a problem.

I could not tell from the fire trail whether it had started in the railway brambles and spread to the long dead grass of unused plots or vice versa.

Might be something that Groundwork would tackle.
Local voluntary organisation you can find them at

http://www.groundwork.org.uk/about-our-organisation

Beryl.

Beryl a worthy but unlikely suggestion as anyone working on railway land has to be "railway safety trained" and "shepherded".

Saw some platorms being painted on the way to Twickenham Guiness final and there were more lookouts and whistle/hooter blowers than painters.

Yes, only a suggestion Peter as they do work with Local Government, communities and business.
I appreciate the safety angle.

Beryl.

I only joined the current association in October, but apparently last year there were two line side fires that the members on site had to put out, despite the fact that they were not started by allotment holders. Being a third-rail environment, it is not realistic to get voluntary organisations to clear the embankments; it would have to be done by Network Rail. In reality, if any of us has a bonfire on site, there is a very good chance that somebody will call the fire brigade, or that a NR employee at the local sub-station will walk along the line to see if there is a great danger to trains. Of course, any line side fire immediately triggers a complete shut down of the timetable. To me, it makes no sense at all to have "wild" brambles growing close to the rails, because these contain a lot of dead wood, which makes perfect kindling! To make matters worse, it appears that NR has used industrial weedkiller in the past because several larger trees and shrubs are also dead. The best solution would be for them to clear the embankment annually or risk major fires.

It occured to me Peter you might be confusing Groundwork with Ground Force. They are nothing to do with Charlie Dimmock & Co.
They do excellant work within the community. Not garden makeovers.

Beryl.

Barry, Not being a smoker, will people be allowed to smoke on trains? Are they not classed as 'public places'.

Beryl.

Beryl wrote:It occured to me Peter you might be confusing Groundwork with Ground Force. They are nothing to do with Charlie Dimmock & Co.
They do excellant work within the community. Not garden makeovers.
Beryl.

No, just being a pesamist.

The easiest solution would be if it really thoroughly caught fire whem the line was shut for engineering work so no trains were running.

Shame that is so unlikely though.