Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 5044 on Railways: Nature Conservation, on how many occasions planned railway maintenance, vegetation management and infrastructure works were (a) delayed, (b) postponed and (c) altered following advice from an ecologist relating to nesting birds in each of the last five financial years.

Neither the Department nor Network Rail hold data on delays, postponements and alterations to work that may have occurred due to advice from ecologists specifically relating to nesting birds. Network Rail routinely undertakes checks in advance of vegetation management and infrastructure works during the nesting season so that work can continue in a safe and legal manner. In most cases, collaboration between railway engineers and ecologists means that essential works can continue whilst having due regard to the legislation protecting nesting birds.