Editing Network Rail (section)

=== Infrastructure ===
[[File:Brunel's Saltash Bridge.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Albert Bridge]] after refurbishment by Network Rail]]
Network Rail covers 20,000 miles of track, and 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our history |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/about-us/ |access-date=7 November 2022 |publisher=Network Rail }}</ref> They claim to run the world's largest [[third rail]] network.<ref>{{cite web|title=Third rail - Network Rail|periodical=Networkrail.co.uk|publisher=|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/track/third-rail|format=|access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref>

In February 2004, an operations centre at [[London Waterloo railway station|Waterloo station]] in London was opened, which was operated jointly by Network Rail and [[South West Trains]]. This was the first full collaboration of its kind since privatisation, and it is regarded as a model for other areas of the network, with a further six integrated Network Rail + TOC Control Centres having opened since then, at [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]], [[Croydon]] (Leading Control for Thameslink), {{rws|Swindon}}, {{rws|Birmingham New Street}}, [[Glasgow Central station|Glasgow]] and, most recently, [[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street]] and South Wales based in Cardiff Canton.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

Track renewal, the ongoing modernisation of the railway network by replacing track and signalling, continues to be carried out by private engineering firms under contract. The biggest renewals projects include the multibillion-pound upgrade of the London – Glasgow [[West Coast Main Line]], which was completed in 2008, the [[Thameslink Programme]] to upgrade the north–south railway through London and work on the part of [[Crossrail]] which is operated by Network Rail.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/indexpage.aspx |title=Our plan for rail in Britain |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161026210441/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/indexpage.aspx |archive-date=26 October 2016 }}</ref> A line closure for engineering or renewal works is known as a possession.

Network Rail has an internal infrastructure database known as GEOGIS. The system uses codes for four-digit Track IDs to identify which line at any location is referred to. The first number refers to track direction, with values of 1 (Up), 2 (Down), 3 (Reversible/Bi-directional), or 4 (Merry Go Round Loop). The second number refers to track use, which can be 1 (Main or Fast), 2 (Slow, Local or Relief), 3 (Goods), 4 (Single line), 5 (Loop), 6 (Terminal or Bay), 7 (Crossover), 8 (Other or Engine), or 9 (Single Siding). The third and fourth numbers refer to the track number, which can be any number from 00 to 99 inclusive, and are usually numbered sequentially.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

In 2006, Network Rail made public a high-tech plan to combat the effects of [[slippery rail]]. This plan involves the use of satellites for tracking trouble areas, water-jetting trains and crews using railhead scrubbers, sand sticks and a substance called Natrusolve, which dissolves leaf mulch.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1032195.leaves_on_line_cause_rail_delays/ |title=Leaves on line cause rail delays |newspaper=[[The Press (York)|The Press]] |place=York |publisher=[[Newsquest]] |first=Gavin |last=Aitchison |date=21 November 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160306031240/http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1032195.leaves_on_line_cause_rail_delays/ |archive-date= 6 March 2016 }}</ref>