Network Rail is the body that owns the infrastructure ie tracks, signalling and stations in Britain's railway system.
It is also responsible for signalling operations.
Although it owns the stations in the vast majority of cases these are leased to the TOCs for the period of their franchises. The exceptions are a number of main terminuses eg London Waterloo, Edinburgh Waverley which Network Rail operates itself.
It is an unusual body being what is known as a "company limited by guarantee". That guarantee comes from the government. It has no shareholders instead being run by its members who (if I recall correctly) are appointed by the SRA. It is a moot point whether NR is in the private or state sectors.
Network Rail came into being in 2002 taking over from the indisputably private company, Railtrack.
Network Rail's website is here.
For Transport Blog commentaries on Network Rail see here.
For Transport Blog In Brief items on Network Rail see here.
Patrick Crozier | Comments (0)