questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of high soil moisture deficit levels on rail infrastructure stability, earthwork movement and long-term service resilience across the national network.
answerText: High soil moisture deficit levels within earthworks arise when the earth has become dried out following prolonged dry hot weather, leading to the soil shrinking and cracks developing within. If this is followed by a period of extreme or prolonged rainfall...
heading: Railways: Repairs and Maintenance