Control of invasive plants in railway tracks

Control of invasive vegetation in railway areas

The control of invasive vegetation in railway areas is a practice applied, with different methods, all around the world.

The main purpose is not only aesthetic but, above all, to ensure the safety of railway operations, as it is necessary to ensure:

visibility of signals;
reduction of the risk of line interruptions due to accidental fall of plants and/or branches;
better usability of work and inspection areas for railway personnel;
reduction of fire risk.

Moreover, a well-maintained railway line helps contain maintenance costs of the infrastructure and promotes their preservation over time

Before

After

Technics

Mowing and manual brush cutting

Processing technique carried out with machinery and equipment provided to our specialized personnel. Cutting and brush cutting activities are required in all those areas where, for technical or operational reasons, self-propelled mechanical means dedicated to vegetation cutting cannot operate

Mechanical mowing and brush cutting

Specific self-propelled mechanical equipment is used for the activity areas. In particular, Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l. has railway motor trolleys with telescopic arms and shredding heads that ensure activity along the line, in trenches, and on embankments. In the railway sector, special tractors and work vehicles are also used, equipped with telescopic arms and shredding heads, with a road/rail system that allows them to be used both on tracks and on roads. In other areas of intervention, Soradis uses tractors with side arms, self-propelled remote-controlled equipment, and traditional self-propelled equipment

Tree felling and pruning

The felling and pruning of tall trees, in environments subject to railway or road traffic and in archaeological or strategic areas, require particular techniques that are called "controlled felling." Soradis S.I.A S.r.l., with a preliminary agronomic-phytosanitary survey and tree stability assessment (V.T.A.) of the tree species, together with the client, identifies the trees that are in a degraded state of health and are dangerous or risky, in case of fall, for both railway and road traffic and for people who frequent the intervention areas.

In cases where it is not possible to operate with means equipped with a telescopic arm and basket, the felling and pruning are carried out using the "tree climbing" method. Soradis S.I.A S.r.l. applies this methodology with its highly specialized and qualified personnel for the required activity. Soradis S.I.A S.r.l. also has its own equipment that allows work at height in compliance with workplace safety regulations.

Chemical techniques for controlling invasive vegetation

Vegetation control using chemical formulations is a widely used practice in agriculture that has also spread to the railway sector.

In the latter, vegetation control with chemical formulations allows achieving the quality objectives required by the client while reducing the risk of interference from the use of operators necessary to fulfill contractual requirements.

Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l. performs its treatments in compliance with current legislation, in particular:

The National Action Plan (P.A.N.), which establishes the objectives, measures, timelines, and indicators for reducing the risks and impacts arising from the use of plant protection products. The Plan promotes more sustainable practices for using plant protection products and provides guidelines for reducing the impact of these products in agricultural areas, non-agricultural areas (urban green areas, roads, railways, etc.), and protected natural areas;
The Minimum Environmental Criteria (C.A.M.). These are the environmental requirements defined for the various stages of the tender process, aimed at identifying the best design solution, product, or service from an environmental perspective, considering market availability.

Additionally, Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l. has also achieved EMAS certification (first registration on November 7, 2017) issued by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and EcoVadis certification issued by a private entity that aims to evaluate the sustainability performance of the company and its partners.

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is a voluntary tool created by the European Community that organizations (companies, public entities, etc.) can join to evaluate and improve their environmental performance and provide information on their environmental management to the public and other interested parties.

The management system related to EMAS registration, accreditation, and surveillance of Environmental Verifiers is carried out in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 standards.

The EcoVadis certification is an evaluation system of companies' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. It is a tool that allows companies to measure and improve their ESG performance internationally, thereby demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and ethics.

The certification is issued following an independent evaluation, based on a standardized and transparent methodology. To obtain certification, companies must demonstrate that they adopt sustainable and responsible practices in various areas, including labor, environment, ethics, and governance.

In the end, a certificate is issued to eligible companies that have completed the EcoVadis evaluation process and have demonstrated that they have a relatively solid management system that meets sustainability criteria. To date, Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l. has achieved a GOLD rating, testament to the high professionalism and ethics acquired over its long activity.

Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l. employs high-profile professional figures (phytosanitary consultants as required by the P.A.N.) with long experience in the field. The experience and professionalism acquired by the Technical Management, team leaders, and field operators (with certification for purchasing and using phytosanitary products) guarantee results with minimal impact on the ecosystem. Continuous training courses are held at Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l. on new regulations in force, with all personnel interacting with scientific informants from multinational agrochemical companies and other professionals.

Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l., in addition to manual equipment (battery-powered sprayer), has specific equipment for operating in critical points (such as archaeological areas, photovoltaic plants, and military sites), allowing it to operate along roads, canals, and railway lines (herbicide train and motor trolleys). All vehicles are equipped with instant water/product mixing systems and distribution of the obtained mixtures, equipped with technology for data collection and verification regarding doses, quantities, and the application location of herbicide mixtures.

Soradis S.I.A. S.r.l., attentive to the research of new chemical formulations, is using environmentally low-impact products in the railway sector with the aim of finding a valid alternative to glyphosate-based herbicides.

header-bg