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Railways: Livestock

Question for Department for Transport

UIN 2401, tabled on 17 May 2021

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that farm animals cannot encroach on the UK rail network.

Answered on

25 May 2021

Network Rail, in its role as national rail infrastructure manager, has the main responsibility for preventing animals from encroaching on the rail network as part of its wider rail safety duties. It uses fences to mark the boundary of its land and to prevent unauthorised intrusions, which are checked regularly. Members of the public are encouraged to contact Network Rail if they notice fencing that is showing signs of fatigue or is unsuitable, so that Network Rail can investigate and take action, which may include repairing or replacing the affected fencing. Additionally, Network Rail will investigate any incursion by livestock onto the network and carry out the work needed to reduce the risk of encroachment happening again.