Passengers and freight are at the heart of Network Rail’s recently published £44 billion, five-year plan (2024-29, Control Period 7 — CP7) for the railway in England and Wales. It sees increased investment in tackling climate change, improving train performance from current levels, investing in things ‘that matter most to passengers and freight users’, and “making our ‘green’ railway even greener”.
In December, the Department for Transport (DfT) published two key documents. One set out what it wanted the railway to deliver (High Level Output Statement — HLOS), and the other how much funding it was making available (Statement of Funds Available — SoFA). Network Rail says that over the last two years, and more intensively over the past few months, it has been working on plans “to deliver the best railway it can for the amount of money available — £44.1 billion. After adjusting for changes in electricity costs, this is £1.8 billion more than CP6 (2019-2024).
“While funding for enhancements to our railway is no longer included in this funding settlement, the Government has already committed substantial investment — some £96 billion — in the Integrated Rail Plan, with a substantial portion of these funds being delivered in projects during the course of CP7; and sitting below the national overview, are four more detailed, regional plans for England and Wales — and plans for our national functions.
“Scotland’s Railway continues to align CP7 plans with Scottish Ministers’ HLOS and SoFA, which was published in early February 2023. We aim to publish the final Scotland CP7 SBP (strategic business plan) in Summer 2023.”
Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, concluded: “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 with the sector to deliver this plan, reshape the industry and build a railway that is fit for the future.”