Armitt: New measure will bring innovation to our rail network

31 Jul 2017 03:01 PM

Deputy chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt yesterday welcomed moves by Network Rail to offer opportunities for companies to work on railway projects across the country.

The company’s chief executive Mark Carne announced a number of reforms to enable this to happen, as part of a response to the Hansford Review into contestability in the UK rail market.

The measures include:

• Publishing a regular pipeline of third party project opportunities;
• Creating a service level agreement between Network Rail and third parties; and
• Creating new third party project champions across the country to support delivery bodies, investors and funders as they deliver their rail projects

Deputy Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt said:

“Record numbers of people are choosing to travel by train, and Network Rail is in the midst of a huge programme of renewals and enhancements to the network, alongside working on major schemes such as East-West Rail and HS3.

“So I welcome these measures, which will help drive innovation and bring new competition and the latest technologies into the industry, to deliver better services for passengers.”