Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Thursday, 25 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Network Rail: Biodiversity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Network Rail spent on ecological surveys associated with vegetation management works in each of the last five years; and how much it plans to spend in future years by survey type.

Answer: Network Rail does not hold a centrally collated estimate of the annual cost of ecological surveys associated with vegetation management. Surveys are undertaken as a routine part of planned vegetation management, and costs are not recorded separately. Any costs associated with this vegetation management have already been agreed as part of the Final Determination for the current Control Period. Future costs will be determined as part of the settlement for Funding Period 1, due to start in April 2030.

Secondary information