Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 91 of the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, what steps he is taking to prioritise long-term investment in climate resilience across the rail sector.

In 2022 the Department for Transport published the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) which outlines the Secretary of State’s objectives for Network Rail’s operation, maintenance and renewal of railway infrastructure between 2024 and 2029—tied to a £44.1 billion funding settlement. The HLOS is clear that the rail network must be as resilient as reasonably possible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather, and that Network Rail must demonstrate its plans for climate change adaptation through developing long-term strategies to influence future investment in the railway.

Network Rail’s resilience taskforce was established in 2022 and is being led by independent experts. Their recommendations to improve weather resilience on the network are already being put into effect, including renewed investment in Network Rail’s capability and use of weather data and technology, upskilling of its workforce, and improving inspections and examinations of earthworks and drainage assets.

The Department for Transport is developing a transport adaptation strategy, taking a holistic approach to addressing the transport-related risks in the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.