01.05.18
Rail boss signals for 24-hour trains running across UK in the future
The nation’s railways could soon be running for 24-hours a day, according to the head of Network Rail.
In an interview with The Times, Mark Carne, who plans to stand down as chief executive of the government-funded company in the summer, argued the move was part of a modernisation in response to growing demands for a more frequent and efficient rail service.
Carne believes Network Rail is preparing for a 24-hour service “in the not too distant future” by inspecting and repairing lines around the country, adding that people wanted rail services to reflect their lifestyles.
Six overnight lines currently run in the U.K; all of which are based in London, which boosted the local economy by £171m in its first year.
And, despite being met with initial backlash from the rail unions over the start of the Night Tube in September 2015, the 24-hour network is estimated to add £138m to London’s economy every year; an enticing prospect for rail companies looking to expand away from the south east.
Carne noted that the public elsewhere in the U.K will be looking at the night tube and 24-hour over-ground lines in London and will call for more overnight lines to be installed around the U.K.
The rail boss said: “If you have a have a 24-hour Tube, it is not going to be long before people want 24-hour availability of rail systems. I am anticipating that my customers - the train operating companies - will come to me and tell me they want to run 24-hour trains.
“And I have got to be prepared for that and that’s why we’re thinking today about what that would look like.”
Enjoying RTM? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!