30 June 2015
Climate change will affect resilience of whole GB railway system, new
report finds
Hotter, drier summers, milder, wetter winters, more frequent and intense extreme weather
events and higher sea levels will affect the resilience of the whole railway system, according to
a new research report published by RSSB.
Phase 1 of the ‘Tomorrow’s Railway and Climate Change Adaptation’ project surveyed the
possible effects of changing weather patterns on Britain’s railway as part of an industry wide
attempt to assess and mitigate risk by anticipating future challenges. By looking at the potential
problems now, industry is planning ahead to consider future changes to its approach to railway
design and operations.
“We are already seeing the impact of a changing climate on the railway – one only has to look
back at the images of disruption caused by storm damage in Dawlish last year to see what impact
adverse weather conditions can have”, says RSSB’s Head of Delivery Jane Dobson.
“It is vital that the GB rail industry works together to take a long-term view of the projected
changes to our present climate and come up with practical measures to make sure we are as
prepared as we can possibly be”, Jane continued.
The Phase 1 research, supported by a consortium involving Arup, CIRIA, JBA Consulting, the Met
Office and the University of Birmingham, and overseen by RSSB, Network Rail and John Dora
Consulting, found that that higher summer temperatures, changing patterns of rainfall, more
frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cold snaps, heavy rainfall and
storms, higher sea levels and larger storm surges will affect the resilience of the whole railway
system, particularly track structures, earthworks and rolling stock.
This first phase has identified over 120 recommendations relating to increasing the resilience of
Britain’s railways and its various sub-systems in the short, medium and long term; with 10 key
recommendations highlighted as priorities following consultation with GB rail experts. The
outputs of Phase 1 have now been published on SPARK, the knowledge sharing portal for rail
professionals and experts.
T: +44 (0)20 3142 5300
F: +44 (0)20 3142 5663
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
The Helicon, 1 South Place
Registered office:
The Helicon, 1 South Place
www.rssb.co.uk
London EC2M 2RB
London EC2M 2RB
Reg No. 04655675
Phase 2 of the research programme will focus on what can be done by the GB rail industry to
respond and adapt to the potential impacts of projected climate change and extreme weather
over the short, medium and long term and is due to publish its findings in spring 2016.
For full details about the work taking place on the ‘Tomorrow’s Railway and Climate Change
Adaptation’ project visit http://www.rssb.co.uk/hot-topics/climate-change-adaptation
-EndsFor further information, please contact Emma Martin, Media Relations Manager via
emma.martin@rssb.co.uk or 020 3142 5653. Alternatively, contact RSSB’s main press office line
via pressoffice@rssb.co.uk or 020 3142 5400.
Notes to Editors:
About RSSB
RSSB is an independent, not for profit, rail body with a wide compass of knowledge, skills and
experience. We span the whole system and our members include infrastructure companies,
train and freight operators, rolling stock owners and suppliers to the industry.
Website: www.rssb.co.uk Twitter: @RSSB_rail
About Network Rail
Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain’s railway, the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000
bridges and viaducts, and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of
which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.6bn
journeys by rail every year – double the number of 1996 – and move hundreds of millions of
tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We’re investing £38bn in the railway by 2019
to deliver more frequent, more reliable, safer services and brighter and better stations.
@networkrailPR #BetterRailway
T: +44 (0)20 3142 5300
F: +44 (0)20 3142 5663
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
The Helicon, 1 South Place
Registered office:
The Helicon, 1 South Place
www.rssb.co.uk
London EC2M 2RB
London EC2M 2RB
Reg No. 04655675