NETWORK Rail has warned an energy company's plan to drill for methane in the Forth Valley risks causing an explosion beside one of Scotland's busiest main line railways.

Britain's railway operator has objected to a proposal by Dart Energy to sink 14 wells in the central belt as part of a £300 million deal to supply gas to Scottish and Southern Energy. 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 health risks.

More than 20,000 square kilometres of land in Scotland –including the entire central belt and a part of south-west – have been earmarked by the UK Government for possible exploitation by controversial extraction technologies. Network Rail has lodged a formal objection with Falkirk Council about a project, which is planned for Letham Moss, near Airth, Stirlingshire. Its rail engineers have warned explosions could be caused by uncontrolled emissions of the flammable gas at two sites beside the Larbert to Stirling line.

In a letter to the council, Network Rail 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."

Dart Energy said yesterday it was working with Network Rail to ensure the project was safe. A spokesman said: "We will put whatever is required in place to comply with Network Rail's rigorous technical requirements."