On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 14:57:27 +0100, "Rachael of Nex, the Wiccan Rat"
wrote:

I live next to a railway line - the back fence of my garden abuts the space
BR (or whoever it is who is responsible for the land these days) use between
the platform and other people's land to stop trespassers.
[snip]
I hasten to add that there is so much wilderness I'm absolutely sure nobody
would notice anyway (I would not consider doing it if not) but I'd just like
to know where I stand. I suppose I could ask someone at the station to trim
it and remove the bits (I'd probably get laughed at though) but you'd never
get to it on their side anyway.

Thoughts or similar experiences ?

This might sound a little complex but that's how the railways are these
days. From your post you appear to be very close to a station as opposed
to just backing onto a railway line between stations. If this is the
case then it is *possible* that the land where the tree is *could* be
leased to the train company that leases the station. If that is not the
case then it will definitely be down to Network Rail to maintain the
embankment, fencing and vegetation that backs onto your garden.

I'd enquire at the station and get the head office address for the train
company and also the appropriate local section of Network Rail. I'd then
write to or E Mail them and ask them to either consent to you doing what
you need to do to the tree or require them to attend to the tree. As we
are nearing Autumn and the leaf fall season you can guarantee that
planning is underway to deal with the leaves, branches and twigs that
mother nature will dump on the ground / rails. Therefore it is an
opportune moment to "piggy back" on other work that Network Rail will be
doing to control vegetation and leaf fall.

www.networkrail.co.uk
http://nrekb.com/toc_list.html has the links to all the train companies
websites for contact details.


HTH
--
Paul C