Energy
Network Rail Makes Plea to Oxfordshire Residents not to Dump Rubbish on the Railway
Network Rail has had to spend £250,000 to remove 200 lorry loads of fly-tipped rubbish from the railway in Oxford. In the St Peters Road area, between Oxford Parkway and Oxford station, 4,000 tonnes of waste were removed as work continues to link the two stations as part of the new Oxford to London Marylebone route.
The mammoth haul included:
- shopping trolleys
- asbestos roofs
- bicycles
- televisions
- gas canisters
- a trampoline
The railway is often seen as an easy target for litter and fly-tipping by members of the public and clearing up the rubbish costs Network Rail – and therefore taxpayers – hundreds of thousands of pounds every year that could otherwise be invested in improving the railway for passengers
Rob Mole, Network Rail programme manager, said: “Fly-tipping is not only illegal it blights the environment and poses a safety threat to the operation of the railway and our staff who maintain it. We have cleaned up the area of track which has been used by mindless fly-tippers and this will make a positive difference for local residents and people using the railway.
“We will always look to trace those responsible and will take action against them whenever possible. People should dispose of waste materials in the appropriate manner and not use the railway as a dumping ground.”
Fly-tipping on the railway is illegal and carries a fine of up to £1000. Anyone with information about the fly-tipping should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. To report flytipping on the railway contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 08457 11 41 41.