RAIL bosses have unveiled plans to safeguard one of the main lines through Burnley in advance of it becoming much busier next year.

Environmental engineers have identified a copse of four large trees close to Black Clough Culvert, just beyond Holme Tunnel at Cliviger, which may pose a threat to the line between Burnley Manchester Road station and the Todmorden Curve.

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At least one of them is thought to be leaning at a dangerous angle towards the line, which will next year carry not only York to Blackpool North services but the new route between Burnley and Manchester.

An extra train every hour, in both directions, is expected when the service to Manchester Victoria begins in spring, Mark O’Sullivan, on behalf of Network Rail, says the four trees are at the edge of Dodbottom Wood, to the north-west of Black Clough stream and the culvert.

He said: “The middle two trees, of the four adjacent to the structure, along the south-east bank, appear to be dead and are likely to need felling as they will probably threaten the safe running of the trains.

“The tree closest to the railway is leaning towards the railway and may require removal as it may also threaten the trains’ safe running.”

Another tree will need to be removed before a new inlet is created for the culvert, he has told Burnley Council planners.

Wildlife experts say there would be no impact on several other species after conducting extensive surveys of the culvert and associated watercourse on behalf of Network Rail.

The aboricultural operation will be conducted close to Holme Tunnel, which was the subject of a 20-week repair operation, completed by engineers working on behalf of Network Rail last March.

An extra train every hour, in both directions, is expected when the new East Lancashire to Manchester Victoria route begins in spring, alongside the regular Blackpool North to York trains, which run along the same track.