New data shows bat populations thriving on Historical Railway Estate
Hanging around in the shadowy underbelly of Victorian bridges, swarming through dark, locked up tunnels and diving into the recesses of historic viaducts a secret invasion is underway – and its good news for the nation’s bat population!
The Historical Railways Estate is a collection of structures and assets, many built over 100 years ago, which were once part of Britain’s rail network. Since 2013 National Highways has been responsible for looking after the HRE on behalf of the Department for Transport.
Included in the HRE is:
- 1906 overbridges and underbridges.
- 152 tunnels
- 101 viaducts and aqueducts
- 221 earthworks such as embankments and weirs
- 125 pockets of land, former roads and memorials.
This autumn National Highways will celebrate 10 years of looking after the HRE on behalf of the Department for Transport. You can read more about the work undertaken in the last ten years here.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:
Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiriesOption 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)
