Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding she plans to allocate to improve the resilience of railway infrastructure in West Dorset against soil moisture deficit and other climate-related ground conditions over the next five years.

South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex are developing a long-term plan to modernise the West of England line, planning train services, the trains we use, and infrastructure modernisation together in a ‘whole system’ approach that could include additional sections of double track to improve performance and resilience, and some additional services.

SWR/Network Rail Wessex are working closely with local partners to refine the options, review potential third-party funding opportunities and enhance the various elements' business cases.

SWR/Network Rail Wessex have developed a wide range of options and are carefully analysing each. The options with the strongest case, considering affordability, growth, decarbonisation, economic value and reliability, will be taken forward for further development in conjunction with the Department. Because the line serves a diverse range of communities and needs, there will need to be consensus amongst partners about the options for further development.

Alongside this, we are continuing to invest in the maintenance of the line, which includes provisional plans to replace signalling in the Salisbury area within the next 10 years.