Badgers will not be disrupted or hurt during upcoming work to install new overhead lines on London railways, Network Rail says.

Gantries that support the overhead electricity lines require deep foundations which could threaten badger setts when they're put in place between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria.

However, rather than shift the badgers, which can be a lengthy and costly process, designers have been able to use a detailed survey to work around the badger dens, which are regularly found along the railway network.

It is considered a win-win outcome with Network Rail saving time and money while the badgers can keep their home. The approach will deliver savings when used on future projects too.

Adriaan Bekker, Network Rail’s environmental manager for Anglia, said: “We should always consider wildlife at the design stage and how to avoid disturbing it and avoid risks and delays to the project before construction starts.”

Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust, commended Network Rail’s consideration and called for this kind of wildlife-friendly approach to be adopted across the industry.

“Being able to work at the railway design stage to avoid the need to relocate badgers is a major environmental breakthrough and cost saving, which we would like to see rolled out across the rail network,” he said.