Railways: Nature Conservation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 5044 on Railways: Nature Conservation, how many ecologists were employed or contracted by Network Rail in each of the last five financial years; and what the total cost to Network Rail of employing or contracting ecologists was in each such year.
Answered by Keir Mather
We do not have immediate access to data for figures over the last five years.
However, since the 2018 Varley review, commissioned by the previous government, Network Rail has taken steps to ensure its environmental functions are adequately resourced. Network Rail currently employs 32 in-house ecologists, ranging from newly qualified graduates to senior, highly experienced specialists. This expertise is bolstered by ecological experts from environment consultancies where necessary.
There is no readily available data for the costs of these consultants (as that value is delivered as part of the wider project works).
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