Network Rail Battles Graffiti with Tree Power at Bermondsey
Network Rail has launched a bold, green attack on graffiti and vandalism for the first time ever. At the Bermondsey Dive Under – where one rail line tunnels beneath another – they’ve planted trees to shield surfaces from taggers. This clever eco-move not only freshens up views for passengers and locals but also slashes cleaning bills.
£150,000 Wasted on Graffiti – Trees to the Rescue
Graffiti on this South-East London hotspot has cost taxpayers a whopping £150,000 over two years. Jon Ruch, Network Rail’s head of security for the Southern region, said:
“Over the last year or so, our teams have been working incredibly hard to remove more graffiti in order to make the railway a more inviting place for our passengers.”
“We spend around £750k per year targeting graffiti hotspots and have cleared nearly 700 sites across the Southern region since the beginning of the year.”
The innovative tree planting acts as a natural screen, blocking spray paint and helping prevent fresh tags. It’s not just cost-effective – it’s great for the environment too.
Network Rail’s Green Revolution Gains Speed
The Bermondsey tree planting is part of a massive £1 million eco-revamp across the Southern Region, launched this April. Working with The Tree Council charity, Network Rail aims to plant tens of thousands of trees and shrubs across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and south London. Originally aiming for 10,000 trees by March 2022, they’ve already doubled that haul – with thousands more on the way by 2024.
Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy jumped into action on July 1, planting the final tree with the Southern team. He said:
“It was great to be out there with the Southern team planting trees. The security and sustainability teams collaborated with Keltbray to develop a tree screening solution to prevent future graffiti on our infrastructure. Thank you to everyone who was involved.”
Driving Sustainability on Britain’s Railways
- 50 brand new nature reserves established
- Railway sleepers made from recycled plastics
- Renewable energy solutions rolled out
- Vegetable oils replacing diesel fuel where possible
- Introducing zero-emission vehicles across the Southern region, starting with London
The UK rail industry is on a mission to slash carbon emissions and back the government’s net-zero 2050 goal. Planting trees and fighting graffiti the eco-way are small but vital steps in greening Britain’s rail network – and saving taxpayers cash in the process.
