Question
The derailment in the summer between Haywards Heath and Lewes caused great concern to my constituents. It happened during a period of very hot, dry weather that caused the ground to dry out and crack. I understand that Network Rail is looking at ways to change how it maintains embankments and cuttings, but there was no money in yesterday’s Budget for railway services in the south-east. Do the Government have a plan to ensure that our services are punctual and safe?
Answer
I completely understand why that incident will have been of huge concern to the hon. Member’s constituents. In this control period, we are spending over £2.5 billion on the railways to address climate change mitigation and adaptation. We are awaiting the final report of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch as to the causes of that incident. Network Rail took immediate steps to increase inspections across the network to ensure safety, and the events in Spain yesterday serve as a reminder of why safety must always be paramount on our railways.40% vibes
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The reply gives one concrete safety measure, an increase in Network Rail's inspections across the network, but it does not address punctuality and does not set out a forward-looking plan for the south-east. Much of the rest is general sympathy, and the £2.5bn figure relates to climate change rather than the points asked. A member of the public would likely need to ask again for specifics on punctuality and future plans.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What plan the Government has to ensure that rail services in the south-east, including those between Haywards Heath and Lewes, are punctual and safe. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply gives one concrete safety action, that Network Rail increased inspections across the network (statement 4), but it says nothing about punctuality, which the item asks about, and it does not set out a forward-looking plan for the south-east. The £2.5bn figure (statement 2) concerns climate change mitigation and adaptation rather than punctuality or safety, and the sympathy and Spain remarks (statements 1 and 5) are generic. |