Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of tackling the impact of the recent heatwave on the rail network.

The damage incurred to Network Rail’s infrastructure due to severe heat was minimal. Some trains were prevented from running due to the risk of the track expanding and buckling but, once the temperature had reduced and the track had contracted, trains were able to run again. Although there were some overhead power lines that had to be repaired, Network Rail has stated the majority of the incremental costs were to provide extra resilience and ensure assets were operational including extra patrol shifts and watchmen on site.

Train operating companies will also have incurred some costs as a result of the heatwave, such as repairing damage to trains, compensating passengers (for example, Delay Repay) and enabling them to get to their destination. It is currently estimated that there was no material incremental cost.