The railway must prepare for increasing hazards as a result of climate change.

The warning has come from the Met Office, three days before the start of ‘meteorological’ winter on Monday.

The weather service says British winters are becoming generally wetter, meaning that storms, floods and landslides are becoming more likely. Most railway earthworks were built in the nineteenth century, and many on main lines go back to the 1840s or even 1830s.

If wet weather is combined with a fall in temperature, ice can accumulate on OLE and conductor rails, while the weight of ice on tree branches can bring them down, also damaging overhead wires or blocking the line.

At the other extreme, very hot weather can cause rails to buckle, particularly when their internal temperature, which can be 20 degrees hotter than the air, tops 50 degrees. High temperatures can also cause overhead lines to sag, while extreme weather can also cause power cuts.

The Department for Transport and the Met Office, together with other partners, have created transport hazard summaries about the natural and weather-related risks which can damage infrastructure and disrupt services. These summaries are intended to help operators understand their specific risks and provide practical advice to help them to be more resilient.

The DfT’s director for resilience Andy Gregory said: ‘Safe and reliable transport is a cornerstone of our daily lives and economy, yet it faces growing risks from natural and weather-related hazards. The climate is changing, and we have all witnessed the impacts on our transport system of hazardous weather events that have been more extreme as a result.

‘These summaries provide transport operators with the information they need to assess present risks to their networks and plan for future challenges, to build the resilience of our transport system and help keep Britain moving safely and efficiently.’

Strategic head of UK applied science at the Met Office Mark Harrison added: ‘As our climate changes building resilience is critical. Improved forecasting, early-warning systems, and close collaboration with partners like the Department for Transport are essential to keep people safe and transport networks moving. 

‘Climate projections indicate we can expect more frequent intense rainfall events, which can overwhelm drainage systems, disrupt road and rail services, and damage critical infrastructure. Flooding events such as those experienced in 2007 or 2015-16 cost the UK transport sector hundreds of millions of pounds in repairs and delays, and with wetter months ahead, it remains one of the most significant climate-related risks.’

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