Written question asked by Greg Knight (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 March 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what action he is taking to prevent disruption to train services by adverse weather.

Answer: Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to prevent disruption to train services by adverse weather. [221721] Mr. McNulty :[holding answer 15 March 2005]: Network Rail advise that all its regions have plans and preparations in place for adverse weather and ensures that best practice is shared. Network Rail is taking a range of actions to prevent disruption to train services in cold weather. Network Rail holds a winter preparation conference every summer to review performance during the previous winter and to start planning for the winter ahead. Through these and other efforts, Network Rail has reduced the delays it causes to the network by 16 per cent. over the year ending 31 December 2004, compared to the preceding year. Delays in the autumn period (the 10 weeks from beginning of October to early December 2004) were reduced by 42 per cent. compared to the same period in 2003.

Secondary information