The day-to-day running of Britain’s railway infrastructure has been devolved to ten strategic routes.
Each route will have its own management team to operate, maintain and renew the infrastructure.
They will be separate business units within Network Rail and will have their own accounts, allowing greater benchmarking of financial performance and efficiency between the routes, as best practice is shared across the business.
David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive said:
“Network Rail is committed to building not just a bigger and better railway but a better value railway too.
“Devolution marks a significant change, both in terms of the way we organise ourselves as a company and the service we offer our customers.
“Empowering route teams means quicker and more responsive decision-making and will help us meet our central goal of putting the customer first.”
Each route managing director is now fully accountable for the route businesses under their control as part of a new network operations function, which includes all maintenance, operations, customer services and local asset management.
Route teams will have the power to target investment more efficiently and where it is most needed, with priorities determined in collaboration with train operators as well as third parties such as local authorities.
Robin Gisby, Network Rail managing director, network operations, said:
“Devolution is now possible because of the gains we have made in recent years – improved punctuality, the most passengers carried for seven decades, record levels of passenger satisfaction and a safe railway, too. But we can and must do more.
“By devolving power away from the centre, each route will be able to find its own way of working with its customers.
“There will be no one-size-fits-all. What is certain is that we will work together to deliver the best possible railway for local passengers and businesses.”
The Routes are:
| Route | Main office | Route managing director |
| Kent | London | Fiona Taylor |
| Sussex | Croydon | Mark Ruddy |
| Wessex | Woking | Richard O’Brien |
| Anglia | London | Dave Ward |
| Western | Swindon | Patrick Hallgate |
| Wales | Cardiff | Mark Langman |
| London North West | Birmingham | Jo Kaye |
| East Midlands | Derby | Martin Frobisher |
| London North East | York | Phil Verster |
| Scotland | Glasgow | David Simpson |
What I like about this report is the last para: “There will be no one-size-fits-all.” and that is the crux of the whole affair. I had always believed that BR did try their best using 4 regions to provide the best service for ALL passengers. Now there are 9 different regions of operation, all different, and all with their own ideas about providing service and making profit..The Network should operate on a “one size fits all”, after all the taxpayers foot the bill in the end, be they railway workers or millionaires. It certainly looks like the taxpayers have very little to say about these developments, business and money making taking the lead..