Making rail ‘resilient’ against climate change will cost £2bn

Plans have been revealed to make railway infrastructure in Scotland more resilient to climate change with investment of nearly £2 billion.

The plans cover between April 2024 to March 2029 and outline investment expected to take place. The 109-page Climate Ready Plan also includes additional climate science and “adaptation capabilities” to strengthen the industry’s decision-making, as well as potential development for a longerterm strategy for managing climate change.

Scotland has become warmer and wetter in recent years and this is expected to continue, prompting mitigation efforts from transport authorities. In total £1.9 billion will be spent in the next five years, including more than £400 million towards “resilience” from extreme weather.

The breakdown of expenditure includes £100m on earthworks, £100m on drainage as well as other lineside infrastructure, and more than £40m on structures like bridges and tunnels.

Alan Ross, Network Rail Scotland’s director of engineering and asset management, said: “Our plan will look at how we can implement new and improved climate science and adaptation capabilities that will strengthen our decision-making processes and help us manage our changing climate in the future."

David Lister, safety and sustainability director for Scotrail, said: “Our vision is to deliver a safe, sustainable, inclusive and accessible railway for Scotland.

“Climate resilience is a strategic priority, and this plan will keep track and train working together to ensure Scotland's Railway is adapting to the impacts of climate change while targeting actions that enable the continued safe operation of the railway and reduce the disruption climate change can cause.”

Jonny Casey, head of climate ready leadership at sustainability charity Sniffer and manager of the Adaptation Scotland programme, said: “This work will help ensure the railways are able to adapt our changing climate as well as inspiring action from peers and partners across Scotland through Network Rail’s membership of the Adaptation Scotland Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network.”