Rail blast fears over gas extraction plan

Dart Energy’s plans have alarmed locals, who fear the new extraction technique, which has similarities to fracking and is known as coal bed methane production, could cause pollution and harm the health people in the area.

Scotland on Sunday can reveal safety fears have also been raised by rail engineers who have warned explosions could be caused by uncontrolled emissions of the flammable gas at two sites beside the Larbert to Stirling line.

Network Rail has lodged a formal objection with Falkirk Council planners raising its concerns about the Dart Energy project, which is planned for Letham Moss, near Airth, Stirlingshire.

The contents of Network Rail’s letter of objection came to light following a Freedom of Information request by campaigners against so-called “unconventional gas” extraction in Scotland.

The Network Rail letter said: “Our asset protection engineers and fire safety engineer have concerns regarding the possible risk of explosion at two of the surface sites adjacent to the railway and the installation of the proposed methane gas pipe beneath the private underbridge.

“To remove our objection, the developer must conclusively demonstrate that there will be no increased risk of injury to the travelling public or possible damage to the railway and its associated infrastructure and provide details of what fire safety measures/provisions are proposed to prevent the risk of explosion.”

Dart Energy said yesterday it was working with Network Rail to ensure the project was safe, but those fighting the plans remained unconvinced.

“I am worried about the methane escaping from the wells, which has potential to cause explosions,” said campaigner Ed ­Pybus. “We have seen in Australia that 44 per cent of well-heads in Queensland were leaking methane.

“We are also worried about the effect on the environment because methane has 70 times the greenhouse effect that carbon dioxide has.”