Network Rail Creates ‘Virtual Freight Route’

Network Rail has announced it has created a ‘virtual route’ for freight services and national passenger operators.

The new route has been introduced as the result of recommendations in the Shaw report and will allow the rail company to focus their improvements.

Paul McMahon will take over as Network Rail’s managing director for freight and national passenger operations, and he will ensure resources are allocated to provide safe operational performance, business development, and improved governance arrangements.

Managing director for England and Wales at the organisation Phil Hufton said: “Rail freight is absolutely vital to Britain’s economy and the changes we are putting in place will mean we are better able to represent the interests of our freight and national passenger service customers.”

Network Rail has promised to identify opportunities for growth, secure third party funding to boost the delivery of freight schemes, and enhance governance for CrossCountry after a review on train operating companies, the freight sector and the rest of the industry.

Mr Hufton went on to say satisfaction with the group from freight operators has already improved dramatically.

However, he noted the importance of continuing to better itself, so it can ensure customers’ needs are balanced against those of train operating companies on a single route.

This comes after the organisation announced more than 9,000 members of staff worked hard over the bank holiday weekend (May 28th to 30th) to upgrade railway services across the UK.

In total, £30 million was spent over the three days, including completing the Stafford area improvement programme on the West Coast Main Line to help freight services run between London, Birmingham and Manchester.