The British railway network is one of the safest in Europe and I know the Government is adamant it remains so while continuing to enhance its safety measures.
The Government has already committed £44.1 billion to Network Rail to spend on operations, maintenance, and renewal work on the network in England and Wales during Control Period 7 (between 2024 and 2029). A further £4.2 billion has been made available to Network Rail Scotland for similar purposes to drive improvements in safety and reliability. This settlement, a 4 per cent real terms increase on the current settlement, was published on 1 December 2022.
In their periodic review 2023, the Office of Road and Rail assessed Network Rail's plans for spending in CP7. They concluded that Network Rail’s plans for CP7 are capable of maintaining, and in some cases improving, the management of health and safety risks. They stated, "we consider that the additional expenditure on core renewals that Network Rail has committed to is sufficient to address the main safety vulnerabilities identified in our draft determination. This supports the safety of those who use and work on the railway and will help deliver a sustainable, well-performing service."
A key element of the CP7 plans is in relation to renewals. It is not the case that Network Rail will not be undertaking track renewals over the next 5 to 8 years. On the contrary, Network Rail will through its contractors be renewing around 4,500km of track. With respect to structures and climate resilience, Network Rail has a broad programme of work to improve earthworks and climate resilience, including a Weather Risk Taskforce implementing the lessons learned from the Carmont accident.
Furthermore, the railway industry is in the process of pursuing reforms to further enhance safety. For example, too many track inspections are still performed by having workers walk down railway lines and there have been a number of tragic accidents over the years.
Modernisation will allow railway authorities to place cameras and sensors on the underside of trains, which are capable of detecting cracks and defects in the tracks, providing a more accurate, and crucially, a safer assessment.
I am aware of Early Day Motion 150, which suggests that moving to a public owned railway is the best method to achieve improvements to safety. However, the Government has already taken extensive action to improve railway safety, which has not required a nationalised railway.
Ultimately, the Government has stressed that maintaining world-leading levels of rail safety is its top priority; the funding provided in Control Period 7 demonstrates this commitment. In Network Rail's strategic business plan for Control Period 7, its CEO Andrew Haines stated, "I am encouraged by the government’s commitment to invest £44 billion in the operations, maintenance, and renewal of the railway in England & Wales." This plan includes forecasts to reduce workforce fatalities and weighted injuries, along with measures that will focus on the most significant precursors to train accident risk.
Fiona Bruce MP
January 2024
