Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what chemicals Network Rail use to prevent regrowth from the stumps of trees or bushes they have cut down.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Network Rail currently uses chemicals to prevent tree regrowth as well as other methods such as coppicing. Network Rail is also trialling grazing on a number of parts of the network to manage vegetation. The chemicals Network Rail uses on the rail estate for vegetation management are included in the table below.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on wildlife of Network Rail cutting down trees, bushes and hedges during nesting season, and what plans they have to end this practice.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The government has not made an assessment of this. Network Rail has processes in place for managing tree removal around nesting season. In advance of any work there are, amongst other checks and surveys, specific checks to identify if there are any nesting birds within the vegetation Network Rail is planning to manage. Any identified or suspected nesting birds are left in situ and an exclusion zone created around them. Teams return after any chicks have fledged. If there are particular safety concerns with the vegetation, there are exemptions within the legislation which Network Rail could use following consultation with ecologists, lawyers and the British Transport Police.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of trees and bushes alongside railway lines that have been cut down in excess of that required to prevent trees falling on the lines.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The government has not made an estimate of this figure. Network Rail must prioritise the performance and safe operation of the railway whilst also carrying out its activities in a way that minimises harm, and wherever possible improves the natural habitat. Trees are removed from beside the railway line for a number of reasons beyond the risk of falling on the line, including invasive species, pests or disease (such as ash dieback) and leaf fall.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide level access onto trains by acquiring level access rolling stock, raising platform levels or lowering trackbeds.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Level access onto trains brings a range of benefits and enables easier journeys for passengers with different access requirements. The government has committed to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure, which will look at and consider the issue of level access as part of this work.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking against those responsible for Network Rail mistakenly cutting down 300 trees in Derbyshire.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The government is not taking action against Network Rail for trees removed on the Midland Main Line between Wingfield and Clay Cross. All the vegetation managed in this area was to ensure the safe operation of trains on the track. Any trees within 6.5m of the line and any capable of falling within 4m of the track were either removed or reduced in size. Dead, dying and diseased trees (some with the fungal infection Ash Dieback), as well as healthy trees which were obstructing the view of train conductors and drivers, were cut back or managed due to the risk they posed to the safe operation of the railway. This was done in line with Network Rail’s tree risk assessment model.

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Found: Clause 58 LORD BLENCATHRA _ Clause 58, page 93, line 38, at end insert— “(ca) any local nature recovery

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