Network Rail has announced a five-year plan to invest £38bn in rail infrastructure.
It includes the construction of new tracks, the renovation of stations and the upgrade of existing lines.
The announcement comes after it emerged that Network Rail was expecting a record fine of £70m for delays suffered by passengers over the past five years.
It blamed congestion and extreme weather for the delays, but said it was disappointed by its performance.
‘Bigger, better’
In a statement accompanying Monday’s announcement about its investment plans Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “Passenger numbers in recent years have grown far beyond even our own industry’s predictions, so it’s vital that this investment over the next five years helps meet the continuing increase in demand for rail travel.
“Bigger, better stations, more tracks and longer platforms, electric-powered trains, reopened railway lines and fewer level crossings – all will help deliver more frequent, more comfortable, more reliable journeys and a safer, better-value railway for everyone,” he said.
The plan, which runs from 2014 to 2019, includes:
- Up to 700 more trains a day between major northern cities
- 20% increase in the capacity of London’s commuter trains
- 850 miles of track to be electrified
- An east-west rail project connecting Oxford and Milton Keynes
- Upgrades for stations including Birmingham New Street and Manchester Victoria
In addition to those new projects, £13bn will be put into replacing and renewing old tracks, points, fencing and platforms.
