Network Rail regulation and performance

German watchdog raises ‘serious doubts’ over Siemens-Alstom merger in latest blow

15 January 2019Germany’s competition watchdog has raised “serious doubts” over the proposed Siemens-Alstom merger and said its objections still stand despite the concessions offered by the French and German rail companies. A letter seen by the...

Delays to £68m rail line upgrade to keep Norfolk branch line closed

11 January 2019A Norfolk branch line will remain closer after a major £68m railway upgrade for the line has been delayed. The upgrade project on the line between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft was due to be completed by 31 March, but this deadline...

Network Rail Digital Railway boss David Waboso to retire

08 January 2019The managing director of Network Rail’s Digital Railway, David Waboso, will retire in March. An internal memo from chief executive Andrew Haines said that Waboso was leaving with a “fantastic legacy” and a “clear direction...

Northern owner Deutsche Bahn wants compensation from Network Rail over extensive delays and disruption

07 January 2019Deutsche Bahn has demanded Network Rail pay compensation for the extensive delays in electrifying its under fire Northern rail franchise. First reported in the Telegraph, the parent company of Arriva Rail North, who run the struggling operator, b...

Network Rail announces winners of multibillion-pound CP6 contracts

20 December 2018Network Rail has awarded one of its largest deals under CP6, with three companies winning multi-billion contracts for both renewals and enhancements for the south of England. The contracts, worth a collective £4.4bn, to deliver renewals and...

Network Rail fined £200k after elderly signaller suffers ‘life-changing injuries’ in level crossing

13 December 2018Network Rail has been fined £200,000 after a 65-year-old man suffered life-changing injuries at a level crossing in Kent over three years ago. Sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court, the infrastructure owner was convicted of one offence under t...

Consultation confirms public support for new rail link between Heathrow and the west

07 December 2018Plans for a new rail link between Heathrow and the west have been overwhelmingly supported in a new consultation published by Network Rail. The proposals set out a new rail link between the Great Western Main Line and London Heathrow Airport, and...

Glaister Report: ORR forces Network Rail to report back on ‘failing’ timetabling process by April

07 December 2018After deciding that Network Rail is breaching its network licence by failing to deliver on its performance obligations, the ORR has ordered the infrastructure owner to publish a plan, by 1 April 2019, outlining a series of major points regarding i...

First CP6 contracts awarded by Network Rail in major £645m deal

05 December 2018The first major contracts for CP6 have been awarded by Network Rail, worth a combined £645m. Story Contracting has been announced as the winner of ‘Lot 2,’ which covers renewals and enhancement work in Scotland and is worth arou...

Grayling ‘should resign’ over ‘appalling’ timetable chaos as MPs call for fare freeze

04 December 2018MPs have demanded a freeze in rail fares and called for the transport secretary to resign over the “chaotic rollout” of the new railway timetables introduced in May, which hit nearly half of all passenger services. A scathing new repo...

ORR takes formal action against Network Rail over poor performance

29 November 2018The ORR is taking formal action against Network Rail to improve its performance as figures show punctuality and reliability are at their lowest levels since the current five-year control period began. The regulator has issued a Provisional Order...

New railway technology to save track workers thousands of hours on SWR

27 November 2018 New technology to help carry out overnight and maintenance work is set to be rolled out across the South Western Railway and will save track workers an extra 1,600 hours a year. The railway technology will allow for a more efficient, safer...

Major overhaul of one of country’s longest tunnels sees delays fall by a fifth

23 November 2018A major refurbishment of Sevenoaks tunnel has seen a 20% reduction in delays and halved journey times for passengers, even as the £21m infrastructure renewal nears completion. One of the longest tunnels in southern England, Sevenoaks has be...

Network Rail seeks £45m integration partner for ECML digital railway

20 November 2018Network Rail has today launched the search for a private-sector partner to deliver a major digital railway transformation across the East Coast Main Line (ECML). In September, Network Rail launched the procurement for a long-term train contr...

Finding positives in negative short-circuiting devices

09 November 2018Anything that brings about safety and time-saving benefits is a valued improvement for the rail industry, which is why the introduction of Negative Short-Circuiting Devices (NSCDs) to make isolations safer and faster is being embraced by the indus...