Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the safety and resilience of the rail network to a) flash flooding, b) prolonged drought and c) other environmental and weather impacts associated with a warming climate.

The rail industry is taking a range of measures to improve the safety and resilience of the railway to the effects of climate change.

Flash flooding: Network Rail is investing in improved drainage systems, flood resilience schemes, remote monitoring technologies and enhanced weather forecasting to identify and manage flood risks.

Prolonged drought: The rail industry is assessing and managing risks associated with hotter, drier conditions, including embankment and earthwork stability, subsidence, and vegetation-related impacts.

Other environmental and weather impacts: Network Rail and Train Operating companies have developed Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation Plans. These plans incorporate future climate projections into asset management, maintenance and renewal decisions. This includes measures to address extreme rainfall, higher temperatures, coastal change, storms, high winds, overheating of infrastructure and vegetation management.