Using herbicides on railways
In highly sensitive areas (known as Water Source Protection Areas), we require only particular herbicides and application methods be used.
If you follow these rules no specific permission is required from us unless you’re in a defined ‘no spray’ zone.
What to do in ‘no spray’ zones
Where a Safeguard Zone action plan identifies glyphosate as an ‘at risk’ substance you must seek agreement from the local water company and apply for a higher risk herbicide agreement from us before using any herbicides.
Where are the Water Source Protection Areas in Wales?
Highly sensitive areas for groundwater are railway lines which pass:
- through a groundwater source protection zone 1 or 2 (SPZ1 or 2)
- through a groundwater safeguard zone
- within 500m of source of an abstraction used for drinking water
- within any other area identified by the water company as being at risk from herbicide use.
Highly sensitive areas for surface water are railway lines:
- within 100m of the river and located in a surface water drinking water protected area or safeguard zone
- within 100m of a raw water storage reservoir used for drinking water purposes.
- within any other area identified by the water company as being at risk from herbicide use.
Herbicides you can use in Water Source Protection Areas:
- On track you can use citronella oil or glyphosate-based herbicides in either handheld equipment or rail mounted equipment
- On flail strip and other off track areas you can only spot apply glyphosate-based herbicides
What to do outside highly sensitive areas
Where vegetation control using herbicides is required outside these highly sensitive area but still close to water, care should be taken to comply with the product label instructions regarding protection of surface water and groundwater and by following existing guidelines as per the Code of Practice for using plant protection products.
No spraying should take place on bridges crossing water and other sensitive locations such as viaducts and elevations.