Network Rail has published its delivery plan for Control Period 7.
The new plan provides a detail overview of Network Rail’s vision for the United Kingdom’s rail network up to the end of March 2029.
Andrew Haines, CEO of Network Rail, said: “The government’s commitment to invest over £45 billion in the operation, maintenance and renewal of the railway in England, Wales and Scotland over the next five years is significant and a clear vote of confidence in the industry.
“Our plans for the next five years are ambitious. We’ll make Britain’s railway safer, more accessible, more efficient and ultimately commit to improving reliability for passengers and freight alike.
“Our plan also lays the foundations for the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), a new public sector organisation that will bring track and train together under a single guiding mind.”
Network Rail has worked closely with the GBR transition team (GBRTT) to formulate a plan that lays the foundations for GBR and future industry reform.
The delivery plan for CP7 upholds a vision of “Simpler, Better, Greener” and centres around six core strategic themes: safety, train service delivery, customers and communities, efficiency, sustainable growth and people.
Key headline figures include a pledge to support 7.5% freight growth over the next five years, £3.9 billion of investment in efficiencies and a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20.5%.
The plan also outlines several key network-wide improvement programmes. These include around £0.5 billion investment in digital signalling infrastructure renewals across the network, in a programme that will run into Control Period 8 for completion.
The West Coast Main Line (North) is also set for its first modernisation project since the 1970s, in a programme that will stretch into Control Period 9.
A full version of Network Rail’s delivery plan for Control Period 7 can be found here.
Image credit: Network Rail
