A specialist rail contractor known for involvement in the HS2 high-speed rail project has completed significant vegetation clearance work along the Downpatrick and County Down Railway.

Expert teams from SG Elite Ltd have been deployed with specialised equipment to tackle an accumulation of overgrowth along the heritage line’s route to Inch Abbey.

The work focused on areas that are difficult to access, where traditional machinery and volunteer efforts are not feasible.

Removing years of unmanaged vegetation has improved visibility for train crews and nearby crossings, while reopening views of the surrounding countryside for passengers. Additional clearance is planned on the South Line once repairs linked to recent floods are finished.

The railway has thanked SG Elite and its management team for their support, noting that the project has also created opportunities to enhance biodiversity through future native planning.

“This is the sort of work that heritage railways often know needs to be done, but simply don’t have the specialist equipment or resources to tackle effectively. Having a contractor of this calibre involved allowed us to address years of accumulated growth that was beginning to encroach significantly on the track, in a matter of days.”

Robert Gardiner, Chairman of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway.

“The transformation is dramatic. Visibility for drivers, particularly on approaches to level crossings, has improved massively, delivering a significant safety boost and bringing the line up to standard. This project shows what we can achieve in live rail environments, delivering high-quality, safety-focused work that makes a real operational difference.”

Chris Thomas, Business Development Manager at SG Elite.