Use Of Railway Land

[susanxx]

I recently moved house and the side of the garden is banked by the main railway line(London-Edinburgh). The grassy area is apparently railway land but it is allowed to be used by all the owners who have this area in there garden. What I am unsure about is who is responsible for tree trimming/cutting/lopping etc as I look after the grass cutting. Part of the area is seriously overgrown and a real eyesore and needs attention but short of a JCB and a couple of skips it is beyond my energies and bank balance.

[FredPuli43]

So do you think the Railway is responsible? Or could be? It's nice of you to think of them. Of course, if you write to them, you acknowledge their right to whatever land of theirs you are using, thus putting an end to any claim of adverse possession you might have been contemplating.

[ladybirder]

These areas are oases for our wildlife.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that jazz.

[craft1948]

If I had a large amount of land I'd have a wildflower meadow..........

[ladybirder]

Oh me too craft. Beautiful.

[craft1948]

When I was little we used to go and play on some land next to the railway lines (fenced off) near a signal box. I remember picking buttercups, daisies, cowslips and all sorts of wildflowers, and go brambling in the hedgerows. Don't seem to see them nowadays.........

[shoota]

Hedgerows everywhere....

[craft1948]

Bugger off shoota :-)

[shoota]

:-) XX

[buildersmate]

It is most unlikely that the bank is owned by anyone other than Network Rail. If adjoining landowners are using and maintaining the land, they are merely occupying someone else land - not an offence initself in English law and a situation which in certain circumstances could eventually lead to that landowner being able to claim the land as their own. This is what Fred is referring to by the term 'adverse possession'.
But if you go back to Network Rail and ask them to maintain the land you will merely alert them to your occupation of their land and they will probably take steps to exclude you from the area.
Network Rail spend millions of pounds per year trimming trees close to the rails but are only fussed if vegetation could start to compromise safety of operating the track.
Your choice really.

[susanxx]

Well too late was the cry. I had a visit today from Network Rail who are looking at their land to erect a fence. Well thats not too bad but still not sure whether or not they will clean up the jungle of rubbish and as yet, undiscovered plant life that lurks in the corner!