Bad
weather
and
ageing
structures


are
costing
Network
Rail
more,
but
it
says
it
has
been
‘working
on
plans
to
deliver
the
best
railway
it
can
for
the
amount
of
money
available’.

It
has
just
announced
its
budget
for
Control
Period
7
–
the
latest
five-year
budgeting
plan
which
starts
in
April
next
year.

The
total
allocated
in
England
and
Wales
is
£44
billion,
which
is
£1.8
billion
more
than
in
the
current
Control
Period.
Figures
for
Scotland
depend
on
the
Scottish
Government’s
calculations,
and
are
due
to
be
published
in
the
summer.

Funding
to
enhance
the
railway
is
no
longer
included
in
the
CP
budgets,
and
Network
Rail
pointed
out
that
the
government
has
committed
to
spending
£96
billion
on
the
Integrated
Rail
Plan.

The
shopping
list
for
the
£44
billion
includes
investment
of
£1.6
billion
in
earthworks
and
drainage,
which
are
increasingly
put
under
pressure
by
climate
change,
as
well
as
the
fact
that
most
of
the
railway
was
built
in
Victorian
times
and
cannot
be
expected
to
last
indefinitely
without
remedial
work.

Network
Rail
said
its
aim
is
‘a
more
punctual
and
reliable
railway
than
today’,
and
improving
services
for
passengers
and
freight
users.

Other
investment
includes
‘next
generation’
signalling,
renewing
lifts
and
escalators,
improving
lighting
and
passenger
information
systems,
reducing
emissions
and
‘making
every
penny
count’
by
achieving
efficiencies
of
£3.4
billion.

Network
Rail
chief
executive
Andrew
Haines
said:
‘As
we
look
to
the
next
five
years,
the
government’s
commitment
to
invest
£44
billion
in
the
operations,
maintenance
and
renewal
of
England
and
Wales’s
railway
is
a
clear
indication
of
the
strong
economic
value
rail
brings
to
Britain.

‘Our
plan
for
CP7
is
ambitious,
focused
on
our
passengers
and
customers
and
reflects
the
current
complexities
and
challenges
facing
the
industry.
There
will
no
doubt
be
obstacles
ahead
and
I
look
forward
to
working
collaboratively
with
the
sector
to
deliver
this
plan,
reshape
the
industry
and
build
a
railway
that
is
fit
for
the
future.’