Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the resilience of passenger rail lines against flooding.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager of Britain’s railways, has the main responsibility for maintaining the integrity and safety of the rail network to ensure passenger and freight services can operate reliably. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2029, Network Rail will invest £2.6 billion in activities and technology that will help it better cope with extreme weather and climate change, including flooding. Earlier this year, Network Rail published its Greener Railway Strategy 2025-2050 which includes objectives for climate change adaptation, and each of the five Network Rail regions have produced an updated Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (WRCCA) Plan for the 2024-29 period.
Network Rail is continuing with research and development on weather resilience and climate change adaptation to gain a better understanding of the vulnerabilities of the rail network to help support engineering and operational decisions. For example, in partnership with the Met Office, its Weather-Related Task Force (WRTF) will focus on providing tools, processes, and support to help routes run a better service during adverse and extreme weather.
Recognising that flooding can impact more than infrastructure, the 14 DfT Train Operating Companies (TOCs) will submit their first WRCCA strategies early next year. These will provide a risk assessment as to how flooding, and other weather and climate hazards, can impact stations, staff, customers and services, and an initial adaptation plan for addressing those risks. The Department has facilitated collaboration between Network Rail and the TOCs during the writing of these strategies to ensure a more holistic approach to managing climate-related risks.
Finally, in December 2025, the Department will publish its cross-modal Transport Adaptation Strategy which focuses on using robust evidence and a systems-based approach to mainstream adaptation in business as usual, including managing flooding on the rail network.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to reduce casualties on railways in a) England and b) the parliamentary constituency of Romford.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Britain’s railways remain among the safest in the world, with casualty rates steadily declining in recent decades. The rail industry continues to act to reduce casualty rates across the entire network, in accordance with its statutory duties, which are enforced by the Office of Rail and Road, Britain’s independent rail safety regulator. In recent years, the industry has launched public safety initiatives, upgraded level crossing, signalling and civil infrastructure, integrated new technologies to improve risk detection and intervention, and enhanced training for staff on the railways, among other steps.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to procure electric and battery-powered rolling stock as part of the move to Great British Railways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the potential for electric and battery-electric trains to reduce the long-term operating costs of the railway, to improve the service it provides for passengers and to meet our environmental obligations. We have committed to develop a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, the first in thirty years, which will place the needs of passengers at its heart and will pursue modern standards of carbon-friendly traction, passenger comfort and accessibility. As we develop this strategy, we will carefully consider the opportunity presented by electric and battery-electric trains, and the associated infrastructure requirements.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that local communities affected by waiting times at level crossings, including East Tilbury, are consulted when freight timetables and volumes are expanded.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways, are responsible for ensuring the safety of the public at level crossings across the network, including East Tilbury Level Crossing. This is in accordance with their statutory safety duties to manage risks on the railways.
As part of this process, Network Rail will engage local communities to inform them of any potential changes to timetabling that could affect the operation of level crossings in their area, particularly those that could have an impact on safety.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Department's Answer to Question 89264 on Railways: East of England, answered on 18 November 2025, if she will make an estimate of the funding required for Network Rail to undertake detailed planning for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 8th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) was not among those projects funded at this time.
The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this included the EACE scheme.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with Network Rail on delays experienced by a) motorists and b) pedestrians at East Tilbury level crossing due to freight movement.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail is responsible for managing safety at East Tilbury Level Crossing as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways and has a statutory duty to ensure all users can use the crossing safely. Network Rail will continue to engage the local community to understand these concerns and consider how they can be mitigated, whilst ensuring the safety of all users is upheld, as this is a priority.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to commission a review into the impact of waiting times at level crossings on a) road congestion, b) emergency vehicle access and c) safety in East Tilbury.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail are well aware of the current issues with waiting times and congestion at East Tilbury Level Crossing, and understand these concerns. As the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways with statutory safety duties to the public, Network Rail continue to monitor and keep the protective arrangements at East Tilbury Level Crossing under review, so that these safety risks can be managed, and any impacts mitigated accordingly.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide mechanisms for (a) local authorities and (b) Transport for London to challenge service decisions made by Great British Railways that affect their areas.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
GBR will be required to consult Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) where decisions on passenger services or rail infrastructure could have a significant impact on their areas. GBR will also have regard to Local Transport Plans and the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy to ensure local priorities are considered. Alongside this, GBR will agree partnerships with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, bringing local influence into railway planning. This collaborative approach is designed to maintain regular communication and a shared understanding of trade-offs. In addition, the Bill also establishes the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as a robust and independent appeals body, providing a clear route for appeal of GBR’s access and charging decisions.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answers to question 87756 on 14 November 2025 and question 87421 on 11 November 2025, what consideration has she made of the value for money of (a) continuing to leave current railway rolling stock leasing arrangements in the private sector, and (b) bringing future procurement of railway rolling stock into the public sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Rolling Stock Leasing Companies (ROSCOs) play an important role in the industry, bringing benefits to both taxpayers and passengers. Since 1995 there has been significant private sector investment in rolling stock totalling over £20 billion.
The Government is now working to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure, which will consider how the public sector can secure best value from the rolling stock market in future, but we expect Great British Railways to continue to lease rolling stock from ROSCOs where they can offer value for money terms.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which bodies Great British Railways will be statutorily required to consult when proposing service or infrastructure changes.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Government is bringing track and train together in Great British Railways (GBR), which will be a directing mind able to take long-term strategic decisions to make the best use of the network and which will deliver benefits for passengers, freight users and taxpayers. GBR will set out their plans for passenger services and infrastructure in an Integrated Business Plan, which the Secretary of State will approve. When GBR proposes to update its business plan, under the Railways Bill it will be required to consult the Office of Rail and Road and Passenger Watchdog, as well as seek approval from the Secretary of State. This will ensure that there is expert, third party scrutiny on proposed material updates before delivery changes