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Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Asked by Laurence TurnerLabourDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 8 September 2025UIN 73012

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps Network Rail are taking to ensure that its trackside vegetation management programmed is adequate.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

Network Rail works hard to keep the rail network running. Its work to manage trees and other vegetation alongside the railway helps to keep trains running safely and on time. Network Rail carries out its activities in a way that minimises harm, and wherever possible improves the natural habitat while maintaining the performance and safety of the railway. Network Rail is committed to achieving an increase in biodiversity across the network by 2035 and publishes annual State of Nature reports to update on progress towards this commitment.

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