Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller demands action over train delays caused by extreme weather

Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller has called on the government and railway operators to take urgent action to tackle train delays and cancellations caused by extreme weather, warning that passengers across West Sussex are facing increasing disruption.

The Liberal Democrat MP raised concerns in Parliament about the reliability of rail services serving Chichester, Bognor Regis and Portsmouth, following a summer of unusually high temperatures.

Speaking during a Westminster debate this week, Ms Brown-Fuller highlighted the impact of weather-related disruption on commuters travelling to and from work.

She said passengers were increasingly frustrated by repeated announcements blaming cancellations and delays on extreme weather, particularly as unusually high temperatures become more frequent.

The MP also highlighted other causes of disruption, including leaves on railway lines and a recent incident involving swans on the tracks.

During the debate, she questioned whether Britain's railway infrastructure was adequately prepared for changing weather conditions.

Ms Brown-Fuller told MPs: "All these people are encouraged to use public transport, but since extreme weather is rapidly becoming just weather, does he agree that it is incredibly frustrating for people who are constantly being told, 'We are sorry for the disruptions, but we are experiencing extreme weather'?"

She also referred to 40 days this year when temperatures had reached 30°C or above, arguing that the railway network needed to become more resilient.

Following the debate, the Chichester MP called for urgent investment to modernise ageing railway infrastructure and prevent further disruption.

She said: "Over the summer, Chichester was faced with horrendous rail disruption because of extreme heat. Well, extreme heat is becoming the norm, with 40 days above 30°C, yet the country and our rail network are not ready.

"Our infrastructure in many parts of the country is Victorian, and disruption is going to become more and more frequent if we do not get a grip right away."

Ms Brown-Fuller also criticised the government's approach to climate change, arguing that more needed to be done to protect transport infrastructure from increasingly extreme weather.

She added: "The Government must urgently look at how they can future-proof the railways. If they are going to keep reneging on their climate promises, they need to start taking action to mitigate the impact of climate change on our national infrastructure."

The MP has previously raised concerns about railway resilience in Chichester.

In June, she submitted a parliamentary question asking what steps were being taken to protect railway infrastructure in her constituency from extreme weather.

In a response published on 7 July, the Department for Transport said Network Rail was investing £2.6 billion between April 2024 and March 2029 in measures and technology designed to improve resilience to extreme weather and climate change.

The department said Network Rail was responsible for maintaining the safety and reliability of railway infrastructure and had published regional plans setting out how weather-related risks would be addressed.

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