Starting from Monday 22nd of February to Friday 16th of April 2021, Network Rail will be working along the lineside around Market Harborough.
Future electrification will bring faster and more punctual trains, but much preparation work is needed before any electric trains can run.
The first step is ensuring no vegetation is within close proximity, specifically no trees, shrubs and plants within 6.5 meters.
As well as ensuring safety to staff and rail infrastructure while removing vegetation, the teams will be careful to preserve and protect the biodiversity. This will mean working with ecologists and carrying out checks for animals to ensure they are safe throughout the three months of work.
Network Rail will remove some of the larger trees to make log piles which make good habitats for reptiles. Additionally, wildflower seeds will be joined by bird and bat boxes on the land next to the railway.
Trees that are too close to the railway could fall onto the overhead wires in the future, causing disruption to services. Trees between 6.5 metres from the line will only be removed if the work is essential for workers and passengers.
Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail Gavin Crook said: “We need to remove the trees which are close to the railway in Market Harborough as part of the preparation work to enable the line to be electrified, allowing faster, more reliable services to run safely.
“We understand how important the trees are for people in the community and we have measures in place following ecological surveys to protect the environment. The work is vital for the safety of our workers and passengers as we invest for the future of passengers and freight users along the Midland Main Line.”
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I think that the electrification to Market Harborough is necessary. And with the Class 810 Aurora IETs to be built which will be Bi-mode.
Yes, electrification will bring faster journey times. But not, of course, fast enough for DfT to justify full line electrification; just a sticking plaster job to Market Harborough, to avoid another embarrasing “extension lead”, like the one between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria! No, they’re still pushing the “bionic duckweed” narrative, as a means to push the cost of modernising onto the RoSCos and off the tax payer!
in other words…no full modernization because ”the poor nature”?