OREANDA-NEWS. Network Rail is inviting residents in Chorley to an information event to find out more about upcoming work to manage vegetation near the railway to keep rail passengers and staff safe.

Last year across Britain around 1,000 trains collided with fallen trees or large branches – a number Network Rail is keen to reduce. Each year there are increased instances of trees and branches blocking or closing lines, disrupting passengers’ journeys.

The vegetation management work will take place between Chorley station and Alker Lane and forms part of Network Rail’s project to electrify the line between Preston and Manchester.

Cutting trees and vegetation back to a safe distance from the tracks allows train drivers to clearly see signals – the traffic lights of the railway – and to spot potential hazards as soon as possible.

The drop-in event takes place on Tuesday,  6th  September 2016 from 4pm to 7pm at St. Joseph’s Parish Centre, Harpers Lane, Chorley, PR6 0HR.  Network Rail staff will be on hand to explain why this work is important for railway safety and how they will tackle the challenge in the area.

Adrian Beaumont, project manager for Network Rail said: “Vegetation management is an essential part of railway maintenance and is crucial to keeping both trains and passengers safe on the railway network.

“We encourage those living near the railway to come along and understand the work we are doing and how it may affect them. Our project team will be on hand to answer any questions and address any concerns they may have.”

About Network Rail

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain's railway - the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.65bn journeys by rail every year and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We employ 36,000 people across Britain and work round-the-clock, each and every day, to provide a safe, reliable railway.