Forestry and Land Scotland has completed the first stage of tree felling along the railway at Culloden Woods after storms highlighted the urgent need for action.
The programme targets trees that Network Rail identified as a risk to the line, with work originally planned for earlier this year before scheduling issues pushed it back.
Recent severe weather brought fresh damage across the woodland and underlined why the operation could not be postponed any longer.
North Region Operations Manager Malcolm Macdougall said the safety of rail users had to come first.
“The significant storm damage throughout Culloden Woods illustrates exactly why this work needs to be done,” he said.
“It put the safety of rail passengers and rail freight at potential risk and that needed to be addressed first.”
Crews have removed over mature conifers and beech along the boundary fences, reducing the chance of trees falling toward the tracks.
Macdougall thanked local residents and visitors for observing closures and keeping clear of the work zone while machinery and teams were on site.
“We will now look to schedule the removal of other windblow throughout the woods to make the forest safe so that we can re open the wider trail network,” he said.
To operate within the railway risk zone, Forestry and Land Scotland required a Basic Asset Protection Agreement from Network Rail.
Regional asset manager Rachel Long said joint working is essential when storms weaken trees near live lines.
“Safety of passengers, staff and communities alongside the railway is always our number one priority,” she said.
“Storms can leave trees weakened or uprooted, creating a real risk of them falling onto the tracks and causing disruption or damage.”
“That is why it is vital we address vegetation risks carefully, working in close partnership with organisations like Forestry and Land Scotland.”
“At Culloden Woods, this joint effort is helping to protect the railway and ensure services remain safe and reliable for everyone who depends on them.”
Specialist contractors used precision chainsaw felling to control the direction of each tree and winched timber away from the line and embankment once it was down.
Forestry and Land Scotland said the scale of damage will require changes to the woodland Land Management Plan.
A public consultation on updated proposals will open in the coming weeks so that neighbours, walkers and riders can help shape the next phase of recovery and safety works.
Further phases will prioritise unstable trees and windblow across popular paths to allow a phased reopening of the wider trail network when it is safe to do so.
Anyone with questions about the felling can contact the team on enquiries.north@forestryandland.gov.scot.
