Railtrack Network Management Statement 2000 Vol. 1

Railtrack Network Management Statement 2000 Vol. 2

Railtrack Network Management Statement 2000 regional summaries

2000-03-30 Rail Regulator starts review of Railtrack’s network management statement (Office of the Rail Regulator)

_______________________________________________________________

date 30 March 2000
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Railtrack launched its fifth Network Management Statement
against a background of continuing growth, improving
performance, better asset condition and record levels of
investment but before the certainty and clarity of the
regulatory review and the franchise replacement process in
available.

The comprehensive 450 page document outlines a total
spending need and options for £52 billion over the next 12
years. It is based on an estimated growth of 4% per annum in
passenger traffic and follows extensive consultation with
customers, discussions with the Scottish and Welsh Executives,
the sSRA and Passenger Transport Executives.

' The £52 billion is the total menu to choose from, and
it includes maintenance and renewal. We would like to focus
though on the next five years, and what we can and should
deliver,' said Gerald Corbett, Railtrack Chief Executive.

'The total enhancement programme in the next 5 years will
be around £8 billion, subject to the outcome of the regulatory
review. £3.0 billion of already committed projects, £2.5
billion of recommended projects and then some headroom for the
other projects and enhancements that the sSRA and our
customers require. It has been built up route by route,
based on the forecast demand, our customers' requirements and
the infrastructure needed. This programme is huge, but will
not overstretch the industry supply base. It will provide
the capacity to accommodate a 4% per annum growth.'

The NMS also outlines the planned further improvements in
train performance, asset condition and most importantly
safety. It describes in detail the management approach to the
modernisation of Railtrack - Area Delivery Teams to drive
performance improvements, the new maintenance contracts to
improve maintenance, the Asset Management initiative which
will transform the Company's approach to managing its asset
base and Supply Chain Management to increase investment
delivery capability.

'There is uncertainty at present. The Regulatory Review,
Franchise Re-negotiation and the Government's 10 year plan are
all critical milestones. This document puts forward our case
and the options. Our job over the coming months is to
concentrate on running the railway better, sustaining the
record levels of investment and leading the debate for a
regulatory review that enables and encourages the investment
the railway needs,' Mr Corbett said.

Committed schemes
Railtrack has confirmed its commitments to several large
projects designed to accommodate some of the projected growth.
The West Coast Main Line, Thameslink, the Sunderland Metro
extension, station upgrades to comply with the Disability
Discrimination Act, implementation of the Train Protection
Warning System and other smaller programmes which will cost £3
billion in the next five years.

Recommended schemes
A number of major schemes are recommended to accommodate the
projected growth on the network. These include the next phase
of the East Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line, London
to Stansted and the North Trans Pennine route as well as
upgrades to capacity around Manchester, Coventry and
Birmingham which are estimated to cost £2.5 billion in the
next five years.

Other capacity options
Further capacity options are outlined to relieve key
bottlenecks at a later date and include platform lengthening
to accommodate longer trains on the London commuter networks,
work in the Sheffield area, upgrade of the Chiltern and
Midland Main Lines and additional platforms at Birmingham New
Street. These schemes will depend on franchise negotiations
and discussions with the sSRA.

New routes
Potential new routes are subject to further negotiations but
include the reopening of a line to create additional capacity
on the Southwest and Southeast approaches to Birmingham and
increasing access to Heathrow Airport from south west London.
Cross city links in London and Edinburgh are also outlined
along with the East London Line and links to Glasgow airport.

Improved journey times
Further options to improve journey times through track work on
routes to Penzance and Bristol as well as between Edinburgh
and Glasgow are also detailed and options to improve freight
capability are included, but will depend on agreement with
train operators.

Station improvements
Proposals are included to provide a range of modern facilities
at stations. These include the installation of escalators and
lifts, the provision of cycle racks, improved parking, better
passenger information and improving connections to other modes
of transport.

Incremental output statements
Consultation with the sSRA has also identified 324 additional
improvements during the next control period, known as
incremental outputs. These have been divided into three
tranches and will be reviewed further with the sSRA.

Notes to editors:

Over the last year Railtrack has:

- Increased investment in the existing network by a third to
£2.0 billion, three times the level of British Rail.

- Reduced the number of delays caused to passengers by around
10% - an almost 50% improvement over four years.

- Enabled a further growth of 4% in passenger train kms - over
25% increase in the last four years.

- Accelerated the introduction of the Train Protection Warning
System.

- Significant progress on the Station Regeneration Programme,
CTRL and a range of enhancement schemes.

- Made good progress on phase one of the West Coast Main Line
project and reconfigured phase two to reduce risk.

- Improved network stewardship with reductions in broken rails
and temporary speed restrictions and improvements in track
quality.

Breakdown of next control period (2001 - 2006) and 12 years
(ie 1999/2000-2010/11) expenditure (excluding CTRL):

2001 - 12 Years
2006
Sustaining the network £10.6 bn £22.3 bn
Committed enhancements £3.0 bn £4.2 bn
Sub total £26.5 bn

Recommended enhancements £2.5 bn £2.9 bn
Other capacity options £2.5 bn* £6.5 bn
sSRA Incremental Output (Tranches I
Statements and II)
£2.7 bn
Station improvements £2.4 bn
New and reopened lines £4.6 bn
Other options £5.9 bn
TOTAL £18.6 bn £51.5 bn

* Assuming regulatory review delivers extra funds
creating this headroom for enhancement expenditure.


Network Management Statement 2000 Vol 1.pdf
Network Management Statement 2000 Vol 2.pdf
Network Management Statement 2000 regional summaries.pdf

Railhub Archive ::: 2000-03-30 RTK-001