Network Rail - Network Rail Rolling Stock - G

Network Rail - G

Network Rail Rolling Stock

Network Rail operates a large variety of DMUs, locomotives and rolling stock to perform safety checks and maintenance (this fleet is not to be confused with the combined rolling stock assets of Rail Delivery Group members who work in combination as National Rail). As well as the multiple units and locomotives, Network Rail own and operate a large stock of rolling stock for particular testing duties and track maintenance.

Network Rail also 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. Network Rail's Infrastructure Monitoring fleet of test trains is operated by Colas Rail, primarily using locomotives from Colas' and Network Rail's own fleets, but have also used locomotives hired from other companies such as Direct Rail Services, GB Railfreight and Europhoenix as required.

Network Rail Development

Network Rail Current Investment Programme

From 1997 to 2014 (inclusive), passenger numbers have more than doubled, following little growth in the previous decades. To cope with the increasing passenger numbers, Network Rail is currently undertaking a £38 billion programme of upgrades to the network, including Crossrail, electrification of lines, in-cab signalling, new inter-city trains, upgrading Thameslink, and a new high-speed line.

Network Rail The GRIP Process

For investment projects, as opposed to routine maintenance, Network Rail has developed an eight-stage process designed to minimise and mitigate risks. This is known as the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP), previously known as “Guide to Rail Investment Projects”.

The stages are as follows:

Output definition.
Pre-feasibility.
Option selection.
Single option development.
Detailed design.
Construction, test and commission.
Scheme hand back.
Project close out.

Each stage delivers an agreed set of outputs to defined quality criteria. The process has been criticised as cumbersome by some and it is proposed to replace it with a new process with the acronym PACE- Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment.

Network Rail Control Periods

For financial and other planning purposes, Network Rail works within 5-year "Control Periods", each one beginning on 1 April and ending on 31 March to coincide with the financial reporting year. These periods were inherited from Railtrack, so that the earlier ones are retrospective, and not necessarily of 5 years duration.

They are as follows:

Control Period 1 (CP1): 1995-1999
Control Period 2 (CP2): 1999-2004
Control Period 3 (CP3): 2004-2009
Control Period 4 (CP4): 2009-2014
Control Period 5 (CP5): 2014-2019
Control Period 6 (CP6): 2019-2024
Control Period 7 (CP7): 2024-2029
Control Period 8 (CP8): 2029-2034

The Secretary of State for Transport regularly issues a High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) indicating what work the Government wishes to be undertaken during a given Control Period.

Network Rail Overview

Network Rail Type: Government-owned company/non-departmental public body

(incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital)

Network Rail Industry: Rail infrastructure and asset management

Network Rail Predecessor: Railtrack

Network Rail Founded: October 2002, 21 years ago

Network Rail Successor: Great British Railways (from 2024)

Network Rail Headquarters: 1 Eversholt Street

London

NW1 2DN

Network Rail Key People:

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (chairman)

Andrew Haines (CEO)

Ric Scott (Highland Area LOM)

Network Rail Products: Public transport

Network Rail Revenue: £6.6 billion (2019)

Network Rail Owner: HM Government (Department for Transport)

Network Rail Number of Employees: 42,099 (2020)

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