Dictionary of Meaning

<<Back
Please select a letter:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0-9

Network Rail

*** Shopping-Tip: Network Rail
image:Network_Rail_logo.gif frame|right|Network Rail's logo '''Network Rail''' is a United Kingdom British "not for dividend" company limited by guarantee that owns the fixed assets of that part of the British railway system that formerly belonged to British Rail, the now-defunct United Kingdom UK state-owned rail operator. Thus Network Rail owns the rail tracks railway tracks themselves, railway signaling signals, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and most train station stations, but not the rolling stock. Network Rail took over ownership by buying Railtrack plc, which was in "Railway Administration", for £500 million from Railtrack Group plc.

Network Rail and National Rail
The term ''Network Rail'' should not be confused with the term ''National Rail''. Network Rail is a legal entity responsible for owning and managing the fixed assets of a network of railway lines. National Rail is a brand used to explain and promote a network of passenger railway services. In terms of geography the two networks are very similar, but not exactly the same. Most Network Rail lines also carry freight traffic, some lines are freight only, and a few lines that carry passenger traffic are not part of the National Rail network (for example Eurostar, Heathrow Express and the London Underground). Conversely some National Rail network services operate in part over track that is not part of the Network Rail network (for example where they run on London Underground-owned track).

Track Maintenance
In October 2003 Network Rail announced that it would take over all track maintenance work from private contractors, following concerns about the quality of work carried out by certain private firms, and spiralling costs. While the company maintained that this was not a step towards nationalization renationalisation of the entire network, many commentators saw the move as a sign that the privatisation of British Rail privatisation of the railways was unravelling. This impression was heightened in February 2004 by the opening of an operations centre at Waterloo station in London, operated jointly by Network Rail and the train operating company South West Trains. This was the first full collaboration of its kind since privatisation, and it is currently regarded as a model for other areas of the network, with a further five integrated National Rail + TOC Control Centres having opened since then, located at Blackfriars station Blackfriars, Croydon, Swindon railway station Swindon, Glasgow Central station Glasgow and, most recently, Liverpool Street station Liverpool Street, which was opened by Alistair Darling on 23 February 2005. Track renewal, the ongoing modernisation of the railway network by replacing track and signalling systems, continues to be carried out by private engineering firms under contract. The biggest renewals project is the multi-billion-pound upgrade of the London to Glasgow West Coast Main Line. Whilst Network Rail takes overall responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of Britain's railways, it historically sub-contracted much of the work and the site to a private company such as Carillion Rail or First Engineering. These companies then carry out the work under the watch of Network Rail. Other sub-contractors are used on site for specialist work or additional labour. These include: * Sky Blue * Jarvis Rail * Laboursite * BCL * Inline * EWS Since 2003 Network Rail has been building up significant in-house engineering skills, including funding of apprenticeship schemes. Network Rail reports significant savings resulting from the initial transfers of work away from contracting companies. Additional contracts came into the hands of Network Rail after the serious accident at Potter's Bar and other accidents at Rotherham and Kings Cross led Jarvis to pull out of the track repair business. Shortly after this, and due to other failures by maintenance companies, Network Rail took control of many more maintenance duties.

Railway Stations
Network Rail owns almost all railway stations on the National Rail network. Management of most Network Rail owned stations is carried out by the principal List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom train operating company serving that station. However 17 of the largest and busiest stations are directly managed by Network Rail itself. These are: * Birmingham New Street Station Birmingham New Street * Cannon Street station Cannon Street * Charing Cross railway station Charing Cross * Waverley Station Edinburgh Waverley * Euston station Euston * Fenchurch Street railway station Fenchurch Street * Gatwick Airport railway station Gatwick Airport * Glasgow Central station Glasgow Central * Kings Cross railway station King's Cross * Leeds City station Leeds * Lime Street Station Liverpool Lime Street * Liverpool Street station Liverpool Street * London Bridge station London Bridge * Manchester Piccadilly station Manchester Piccadilly * Paddington station Paddington * Victoria Station (London) Victoria * Waterloo station Waterloo

External link

- Network Rail Web site Category:Post-privatisation British railway companies fr:Network Rail nl:Network Rail no:Network Rail

*** Shopping-Tip: Network Rail