Trees and vegetation are to be cut back from the lineside next to the East Coast Main Line in Scotland.

The work will take place between Innerwick and Penmanshiel near Dunbar, and carried out at night from January 8 for approximately eight weeks.

The work is needed to help keep passengers safe and trains punctual by reducing vegetation next to the railway tracks. All trees and woody vegetation within a minimum of 6-metres of the track will be cleared, as well as any noxious and invasive non-native weeds within the railway boundary.

Other trees large enough to be at risk of falling on the railway will also be selectively felled or cut back to leave a well-balanced tree canopy. Any trees that are of heritage value or are landscape specimens will be looked at on a case-by-case basis and will be retained where it is safe to do so.

Ahead of the work, environmental surveys have been carried out, and Network Rail has worked with its ecologists to minimise the impact of the work on the environment; they have also advised those living closest to the line about the impact of the work.

Kirsty Armstrong, Project Manager for the vegetation clearance work, said: “We manage thousands of railway embankments and constantly work to manage trees and vegetation so that everything which grows near the lineside is safe and does not cause delays to trains. This keeps passengers safe and reduces risk for neighbours.

“To keep trains running during the day, much of this work is unavoidably carried out at night for safety reasons. Our teams are always mindful of the impact their work can have on lineside neighbours and do what they can to minimise this. We want to apologise in advance if anyone is disturbed by the work.”

Network Rail has set up a 24-hour National helpline on 03457 11 41 41 for anyone who has questions or concerns about the work.