165105 passes Shorthampton on 21 March 2018 with the 1P23 09:50 Moreton-in-Marsh to Paddington GWR service. This picture clearly illustrates the result of Network Rail's total lack of lineside maintenance, with the overhanging bushes on the left now almost touching the trains. Before the line was redoubled, all the bushes were cut right back, and for a few years the open view made for excellent photography. However, as Network Rail no longer do any routine tree cutting, preferring instead to have a massive clearance session when it has got really bad, the result is massively overgrown linesides, which inventible causes leaves on the lines in the autumn - a problem which is virtually completely of Network Rail's own making! |