Network Rail

Network Rail took over responsibility for managing the UK's rail infrastructure from Railtrack in 2002.

Their aim is to deliver a safer, reliable and efficient rail network and they are responsible for the operation, maintenance and renewal of Britain's rail infrastructure. That includes -

• Tracks
• Signals
• Bridges
• Viaducts
• Level crossings
• Tunnels
• Stations

Network Rail is a private limited company by guarantee, which means it is a private company without shareholders run along commercial lines run by a board of directors. Profits from its operations are invested in the infrastructure.

Instead of shareholders, Network Rail has two general categories of members - industry members and public members - drawn from a wide range of stakeholder organisations. The majority of its 116 members are public members. The Scottish Government is a public member of Network Rail.

The role of Network Rail members is to -

• Hold the board accountable for its management of the business
• Ensure that the company is managed with high standards of corporate governance
• Review Network Rail's performance against its commercial and other targets
• Review performance against railway industry benchmarks

Network Rail's principle accountabilities are to -

• Its train and freight operator customers under track access contracts and the network code
• The Regulator under statute and the network and station licences
• The providers of public funds
• The Health & Safety Executive

Under the Railways Act 2005, Scottish Ministers will in future specify and fund the outputs to be delivered by Network Rail within Scotland.

You can find out more at the Network Rail website