
Leaked Network Rail documents show that the organisation has insufficient funds to maintain, operate and renew the UK’s railway infrastructure during the next 5-year funding period.
According to a leaked presentation which showed that the condition of the UK’s crumbling infrastructure including bridges, earthworks and tracks is crumbling and is expected to get worse. More especially as Network Rail’s funding for the next 5 years 2024 – 2029 will not cover these rising costs.
Inevitably this lack of funding will result in increased delays for rail passengers and unreliability of trains. Indeed, rail customers have already seen the closing of Nuneham Viaduct in Oxfordshire which carries 240 trains a day which was unexpectedly forced to close when the structure was found to be very unstable.
Previous calls from the RMT slammed the government for its “managed decline.” Despite the funding constraints and reduced reliability, rail fares rose by 5.9% this year – the highest increase for a decade.
The Office for Rail & Road (ORR) expressed their concerns in October 22 about the amount of maintenance works that needed to be done by Network Rail before the end of Control Period 6 (CP6) in the face of the economic downturn. The ORR also warned that the ramifications of CP6 would most likely impact Network Rails’ funding and delivery abilities for CP7. In December 2022 the government announced that Network Rail would receive £27.5bn of funding for CP7 of which Network Rail would be expected to contribute £16.5bn from their own income. Giving a total of £44bn for the continued investment, upgrade and management of the UK’s railway infrastructure.
The leaked presentation states that the funding constrictions will mean:
- Network Rail will do fewer repairs over the next five years, clearing less of the debris that can cause delays and accidents
- Lack of funding will lead to higher costs overall as Network Rail will be expected to repeatedly repair outdated infrastructure instead of replacing it
- Network Rail £3bn risk fund, which covers unpredictable events like a pandemic or extreme weather, has been cut because there is “not sufficient headroom”
- A “market-led” approach to maintenance will be adopted, with the highest earning services taking priority
#networkrail #cp7 #funding #railways #infrastructure