Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the risk of rail disruption caused by soil moisture deficit.

Network Rail manages the risk from soil moisture deficit through a combination of asset monitoring, inspection, maintenance and targeted mitigation at locations known to be vulnerable to climate-related ground movement. These activities support the early identification of emerging issues and help reduce the likelihood and impact of disruption during periods of prolonged dry weather.