Climate change poses challenges for biodiversity because of changing environmental pressures such as rainfall, storm events, and summer and winter temperatures. These climate challenges are also affecting railway operations – and while there are engineering solutions to many of these challenges, we can also use nature to help.

The traditional, engineered solution to a flooding scenario is to remove the water as quickly and safely as possible. A new drain, manufactured from carbon intensive concrete solves the immediate problem for the railway, but may just move the water on to cause issues further downstream. Work needs to be done and safety is still paramount – but it may be possible to prevent the flooding in a different way, using nature. Working outside the fence with adjacent landowners gives the opportunity to help them to manage the land differently to slow the flow of water down.  This work at the top end of a river catchment to increase the amount of water that sinks into the ground or be taken up by vegetation means that the existing railway drainage systems are not overwhelmed and the railway is not flooded.  The new habitat that is created can not only increase the amount of biodiversity, but also take up and store carbon.

Definition for the railway

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are the variety of ways in which elements of nature can be used to deliver a desirable outcome for our railway​:

• Habitat creation and management – including tree and shrub planting​
• Water management – including urban drainage systems, natural flood management and catchment-based management​
• Artificial habitat – including green walls, hibernacula, nesting/roosting boxes​
• Biocontrol / bioremediation – including pest control, invasive species management and contamination clear-up