TRACKSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
UPM Tilhill has been working with the rail industry for over ten years, working direct for Network Rail, major construction and utilities contractors and train operating companies.
Maintaining trackside vegetation is a serious and complicated business, combining the professional expertise to work safely in the rail environment, survey the flora and fauna, carry out the removal of dangerous or problem trees and vegetation, as well as the skills to manage the expectation of both the client and local residents. Managing the environment professionally means planning how to dispose of cut material in advance. Usually it is either chipped and spread on site – away from watercourses and walkways, or removed from a site. Poor quality tree work usually causes more problems than it solves. Logs and branch wood from tree cutting not responsibly dealt with can create new problems – trips hazards for track workers, drains becoming blocked with cut material leading to track flooding, or vandals placing cut material on the tracks causing dangers to trains. Badly pruned trees can become infected with disease and become dangerous dead wood hazards to the railway, not to mention being a blot on the landscape.
UPM Tilhill is a holder of a Contractor Assurance Case (CAC) and has Link-up approval for the following product groups: pest control (1306); fencing (511201); tree-felling and scrub clearance (511601); off-track weed-killing (511602); landscaping (5121); drainage and culvert contractors (5108); vegetation management consultants (5946 and ecology (flora and fauna) conservation and care (640212). In addition the company's CAC scope of works is extended to include track cleaning and Sandite works.
Managing safety is the most important factor during these works – the safety of the rail infrastructure, workers on site, members of the public, and the safety and protection of the environment. UPM Tilhill complies with ISO9001:2000 (quality assurance), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety) standards.
Rail operations teams use a web-based reporting system connected to mobile phones fitted with GPS. Individuals log on and off and flag-up systems are in place to alert managers to approaching shift hours limits. It also works as a tracker, enabling clients to identify where teams are working.
Taking this positive, well managed approach to trackside vegetation management enables UPM Tilhill to work with Network Rail to improve signal sightings, reduce train delays, and manage responsibly the risk posed by vegetation along the lines.
Freephone 0800 3 282128 for more information, or ask a question|.