Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that rail services run effectively and to prevent derailments such as that at Denbigh Hall South Junction.

There is a robust legislative framework governing rail safety, which places mandatory requirements on the rail industry to ensure the safe operation of rail services.  This includes a statutory duty to put in place safety management systems, which are enforced by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain fit for purpose and support the overall safety and performance of the rail network.  The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) supports the rail industry by investigating the causes of incidents such as derailments and by making recommendations to industry.

The rail industry is currently investing in a range of new technologies including sensors, artificial intelligence, predictive modelling and diagnostics to improve its capability to understand, detect and manage derailment risks.