34 Facts About Network Rail

Network Rail Limited is the owner and infrastructure manager of most of the railway network in Great Britain.

Network Rail is an "arm's length" public body of the Department for Transport with no shareholders, which reinvests its income in the railways.

Some are functions which Network Rail already had; others – such as the obligation to devise route utilisation strategies – were transferred to Network Rail from the Strategic Rail Authority, a non-departmental public body, part of the UK government.

Network Rail noted that as Network Rail moved to a "new phase in its development" it was appropriate for a new chairman to lead it there.

Network Rail owns the infrastructure, including the railway tracks, signals, overhead wires, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and most stations, but not the passenger or commercial freight rolling stock.

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Network Rail has a 15-year lease on Square One in Manchester with 800 staff in one of Manchester's largest refurbished office spaces.

The majority of Network Rail lines carry freight traffic; some lines are freight only.

In May 2021, the Government announced that Network Rail is to superseded by a new body, Great British Railways, in 2023.

The Office of Rail and Road then sets the level of fixed income that Network Rail is allowed to charge and assesses the amount of money needed by Network Rail to run efficiently.

Network Rail covers 20,000 miles of track, and 40,000 bridges and tunnels.

In October 2003 Network Rail announced that it would take over all infrastructure maintenance work from private contractors, following concerns about the quality of work carried out by certain private firms, and spiralling costs.

Since 2003 Network Rail has been building up significant in-house engineering skills, including funding of apprenticeship and foundation degree schemes.

In 2006, Network Rail made public a high-tech plan to combat the effects of slippery rail.

Network Rail workers undergo periodic assessments as part of the AITL process.

Network Rail owns more than 2,500 railway stations, divided into six categories.

Network Rail operated Gatwick Airport station until January 2012 when it was transferred to Southern, and Fenchurch Street until November 2014 when it was transferred to c2c.

Network Rail took over management of Bristol Temple Meads and Reading in April 2014.

Network Rail has several training and development sites around Britain.

Network Rail bought a residential centre from Cable and Wireless in the Westwood Business Centre near Coventry for leadership development.

In 2008, Network Rail piloted its first qualification in "track engineering".

Network Rail operates various essential telecommunication circuits for signalling and electrification control systems, train radio systems, lineside communications, level crossing CCTV, station information and security systems as well as more general IT and business telephony needs.

Network Rail operates several analogue radio networks that support mobile communication applications for drivers and lineside workers which consist of base stations, antenna systems and control equipment.

Network Rail has an internal infrastructure database known as GEOGIS.

Network Rail operates a large variety of DMUs, locomotives and rolling stock to perform safety checks and maintenance.

Network Rail hire freight locomotives from various freight operators including DB Cargo UK, Freightliner, Colas Rail and GB Railfreight amongst others to operate engineers' trains in support of maintenance and renewal work.

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Investment projects, as opposed to routine maintenance, Network Rail has developed an eight-stage process designed to minimise and mitigate risks.

Network Rail regularly publishes a Strategic Business Plan detailing their policies, processes and plans, as well as financial expenditure and other data.

Network Rail opened the world's largest solar-powered bridge, adjacent to the remains of the old Blackfriars Railway Bridge, across the River Thames in January 2014.

Railway Industry Planning Group, chaired by Network Rail, has as its purpose railway industry input into the structure and development of the national railway strategic planning processes.

In 2012 the Office of Rail Regulation announced that Network Rail was to be prosecuted under the Health and Safety Act for "failure to provide and implement suitable and sufficient standards, procedures, guidance, training, tools and resources for the inspection and maintenance of fixed stretcher bar points".

Network Rail was prosecuted for breaching health and safety law and fined £1 million in March 2012.

Until 2013, there was discussion over whether Network Rail should be classified as a public-sector or a private-sector entity.

The NAO said that as the Government is bearing the risk that would normally be borne by equity capital, and as it can appoint, through the SRA, a director who cannot be removed by members, Network Rail is effectively a subsidiary of the Government-controlled SRA.

In December 2013, the ONS announced that Network Rail would be classified as a "government body" from September 2014.