Network Rail Plants Trees to Outsmart Graffiti Vandals
For the first time ever, Network Rail is using a green tactic to tackle graffiti. At the Bermondsey Dive Under junction in South-East London—where one railway tunnels beneath another—tree planting is now shielding walls from taggers. This eco-friendly move not only freshens up the area visually but also saves taxpayers serious cash.
£150k Down the Drain Fighting Graffiti
Graffiti clean-up at Bermondsey has racked up a hefty £150,000 bill over two years. Network Rail’s Southern region spends a whopping £750,000 annually on battling vandal hotspots, clearing nearly 700 sites this year alone.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to wipe out more graffiti and make the railway a nicer place for passengers,” said Jon Ruch, head of security and resilience for Southern.
“Planting trees as a natural screen is a fresh, clever approach that could save vital funds to improve railway services.”
Big-Name Backing for Green Graffiti Fight
On July 1, Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy joined Southern teams to plant the last tree in Bermondsey, praising the collaboration behind the project.
“It was great to be out there with the Southern team planting trees,” Hendy said. “Thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially the partnership with Keltbray.”
Massive £1 Million Eco Drive Across Southern England
This tree-planting scheme is part of a bigger £1 million ecological makeover launched this April. Network Rail Southern Region is teaming up with The Tree Council to plant tens of thousands of trees and shrubs across Kent, Sussex, South London, Surrey, and Hampshire through 2024.
- The original goal was 10,000 trees by March 2022 but has already more than doubled.
- Network Rail is boosting sustainability with 50 new nature reserves and switching to recycled and renewable resources.
- Zero-emission vehicles are being rolled out across Southern, starting in London.
The UK’s rail sector aims to slash carbon emissions and back the government’s net-zero 2050 target. Small steps like tree planting could make a big difference.
