Phase 5 of Loch Earn Railway Path, Perthshire

This project represented a challenge due its location on a steep hill with difficult access.

To remedy this, we deployed a 14-tonne excavator with a tree shear to cut down the necessary trees (as agreed with the client) in order to create an access into the cutting. The excavator also formed the ramp using large boulders found on site and imported 6F2 Granular Fill.

Due to width restrictions on-site, delivery lorries could not drive up the hill along the local road. Instead, we set up a tipping area at the bottom of the hill and used wheeled dumpers to drive the aggregate material up the hill.

Another challenge to overcome was the drainage inside the railway cutting. Due to the impossibility of creating escape routes for the water in the wettest areas, we created a floated path on top of a granular soakaway, allowing for sufficient drainage.

To ensure safety, we employed a specialist subcontractor that carried out the scaling of the rock face, eliminating the risk of any loose material falling onto path users. During construction, the presence of an overhead power line meant that we had to liaise with SSE to identify our maximum working height and set up goal posts so plants could work safely.

To ensure minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment, an ecologist was integral to the project to advise on the welfare of bats and nesting birds. Prior to felling trees, a comprehensive survey was undertaken to ensure these would not come to harm.

Forming part of the new and very popular Loch Earn Railway Path, Phase 5 of the Sustran’s long-distance route development adds an asphalt path to the project that should need very little maintenance and has a 50+ year life expectancy.

The path has been a huge success and is already being well used by villagers and visitors alike.