Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) rail and (b) road infrastructure is able to be used during adverse and severe weather conditions.

Network Rail is improving the weather resilience of its railway infrastructure, both now and for the future. This includes significant work to ensure seasonal preparedness, with specialists on each route delivering plans for summer, autumn and winter which are reviewed and monitored by a National Weather Specialist. Network Rail is also improving infrastructure and investigating new ways to make it more resilient, for example drainage and track circuit infrastructure that can better cope with heat.

Highways England works to a severe weather plan, which outlines the actions that should be taken. It also uses detailed road weather forecasts and monitor weather conditions and carries out pre-emptive activities when severe weather is imminent. These include providing information on road conditions and protecting and clearing roads using a fleet of salt spreaders and snow blowers. Highways England also undertakes preventative work, encouraging drivers to take precautionary measures and travel safely through various media outlets.

Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area. It is for local highway authorities to determine the priority they give to winter services and ensuring that plans are in place to deal with any extreme weather events that we may encounter including snow/ice and storms.

Every winter, the Department reminds local highway authorities of their responsibilities. We ask them to ensure they take all necessary steps to mitigate against any severe weather incidents by; reviewing and updating winter service and other contingency plans, and taking into account any lessons learnt from previous winters. The Department also reminds local highway authorities of the importance of working closely with their Local Resilience Forum and other key organisations and responders within their area.