Train in Scotland

Network Rail delivering for Scotland’s passengers and freight

Network Rail has announced that major investment is being planned for the next control period of Scotland’s railway.

With the publishing of its five-year plan, Network Rail Scotland is committing £4.2 billion to the delivery of a safe, greener, and more reliable railway for the people of Scotland, as well as freight services. This will be done through the renewal of railway infrastructure, increased technology use, improving the performance of trains, and increasing the number of passenger and freight services.

The funding settlement for this plan does not include the funding for further railway enhancements, however the railway will continue to be decarbonised, as it looks to support the net-zero ambitions of the Scottish Government.

Network Rail’s plan for Scotland will focus on the customer experience by:

  • Leveraging technology and innovation to continue improving safety and reliability across the network. This will include the continued use of the first British 24/7 weather desk, as well as new tools for visualisation, and remote condition monitoring to help spot problems early.
  • Investing more than £1.9 billion in renewal projects that will bring improvement and reliability upgrades.
  • Reducing the cost of the railway by ‘making every penny count.’

Economic growth and connectivity will also be supported by:

  • Continuing to work on the Levenmouth rail link to extend the economic, leisure and tourism benefits of the railway.
  • Supporting Scottish net zero targets through decarbonisation of the railway, as well as encouraging more passengers and businesses to choose rail to make their journeys more sustainable.
  • Continuing to grow rail freight by setting an ambitious but realistic growth target of 8.7%, with a single freight train taking up 129 heavy goods vehicles off the roads.

Route Director for Network Rail Scotland, Liam Sumpter, said:

“We’re delighted by the Scottish Government’s continued support for the railway. Over the next five years we’ll work hard to provide a safe, greener, and more reliable for Scotland.

“Our plan is ambitious and focuses on the needs of our customers while reflecting the necessity to deliver greater value for taxpayer money. We’re committed to delivering a railway that people can rely on and supports the social and economic growth of the nation.”

RTM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023

RTM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023

Putting Passengers First

This issue highlights the latest topics within the rail industry, from decarbonising the Midlands, improving rail safety, meeting the future priorities of Scotland's Railway & more!                                                      

Videos...

View all videos
TransCityRail Banner

TransCityRail

South \ 28 09 23
North \ 09 11 23
Mids \ 29 02 24

TransCityRail is a series of regional, interactive and insightful events across the country bringing together leaders, collaborators, problem solvers and innovators in a creative and invigorating way.
 

This series of events supports and informs the whole of the rail industry and connects suppliers with buyers, specifiers, leaders and decision-makers looking to procure a wide variety of innovative products and services for their region.

09/11/23

TransCityRail North

The North of England is home to almost a quarter of the UK’s entire population, so it’s no surprise that continued investment across the regions railway is a priority for Transport for the North, Network Rail, HS2, Operators and Major Contractors.

For over a decade the TransCityRail NORTH conference, exhibition and networking dinner has been uniting the leaders of industry responsible for building shaping and delivering rail infrastructure investment across the region for a day of collaboration, conversation and engagement.

This year we have another star studied line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions on strategic rail investment for the region, Transpennine Route Upgrade and Northern Powerhouse Rail revealing £billions in opportunity for the supply chain.

More articles...

View all