Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on upgrading tracks to prevent buckling in hot weather.

The Government recognises passengers need the certainty of reliable and safe journeys, and is determined to work with industry to improve performance on the railway.

With regard to rails buckling, Network Rail have been treating rails to enable them to cope with heat, and have been applying reflective paint to reduce the heat absorbed. Since 2003, these methods have decreased the number of rail buckling incidents by 83%.

After all periods of poor weather, Network Rail undertakes a lessons process to identify actions that were successful in managing the issues and where further action and improvement is needed. In addition, Network Rail is also looking to the longer term and has in place a weather resilience and climate change strategy to ensure the infrastructure can cope with climate change and short-term periods of extreme weather.

One of the top priorities for the Secretary of State and myself is to get the trains running on time, which is why we are investing a record £48bn to modernise our network, boost reliability and create a railway fit for the 21st century.