NR confirms Control Period 6 funding package

Network Rail has confirmed it has no objections to the funding package or spending plan for Control Period 6, which starts on April 1 and lasts for five years.

Writing to Office of Rail and Road Chief Executive John Larkinson, NR Chief Executive Andrew Haines said: “The purpose of this letter is to confirm Network Rail’s Board’s decision that it will not be making any objections to ORR’s conclusions on CP6.

“Our decision is the culmination of almost three years of work. We are grateful for the open and collaborative approach that ORR has taken over this period. We believe this has been key in leading to a set of conclusions that wraps around the way we run our business and ensures that our focus during CP6 is on delivering for passengers, freight users and other stakeholders.”

NR and its devolved routes will publish detailed spending plans for the five years at the end of March, before CP6 begins. These will detail how NR intends to spend the £34.7 billion available over the five-year period. This figure was announced in October last year ( RAIL 865).

The biggest spending by route will be London North Western (£8.7bn), while Wales will be the smallest (£2.0bn).

The next Control Period will have a particular focus on delivering a more reliable and punctual railway, according to NR.