Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April to Question 238613 on Railways, how many sleepers have been stockpiled by Network Rail to meet demand in the period between Washwood Heath ceasing production and the replacement facility reaching production capacity; how much was spent by Network Rail on stockpiling railway sleepers in each of the previous three financial years; and what contingency plans Network Rail has in place to meet future demand in the event that Sandwell metropolitan borough council does not grant plannig consent for a new sleeper factory at Bescot rail yard.

A proposal for a new facility in Bescot is being developed by Network Rail to produce the sleepers necessary for them to maintain, renew, and enhance our rail network. The facility is intended to make up the shortfall when an existing facility at Washwood Heath is closed to become an HS2 depot.

Information held by Network Rail about stockpiling of sleepers is commercially sensitive due to ongoing procurement. If there is a delay in receiving sleepers from the proposed Bescot facility Network Rail will use stockpiled sleepers. If the stockpile of sleepers is exhausted this will affect Network Rail’s ability to deliver renewals on the railway.