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<p>Extreme heat can cause disruption on the railway due to issues such as overhead powerlines sagging in the heat, the increased likelihood of lineside fires, and rail buckling (when rails expand and curve). The department continues to support the rail industry as they work to ensure mitigations, such as emergency speed restrictions, are implemented to protect infrastructure and ensure both passenger and staff welfare.</p><p> </p><p>National Highways’ motorways and major A roads are highly resilient to extremes of weather, including hot weather. The design and build standards applied to these roads are considered best practice and are adopted by other countries around the world. Where issues occur, such as heat damage on the A14 on 18 July, repairs are carried out so that roads can re-open as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, as amended, to maintain the highways network in their area. The Act does not set out specific standards of maintenance, as it is for each local highway authority to assess which parts of its network need repair and what standards should be applied, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Ports all have contingency plans in place and, where necessary, will suspend operations if weather conditions pose a risk to safety. Ultimately, the decision rests with the port as they all operate on a commercial basis.</p><p> </p><p>Safety is an utmost priority and therefore in extreme heat airports have increased monitoring of operations, including the aerodynamics of an aircraft, runway temperatures and the operational environment for staff and passengers. The sector has well-rehearsed plans in place to manage with heat and mitigate the effect upon operations.</p><p> </p> |