Editing Network Rail (section)

==Assets==

=== 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>

===Stations===
Network Rail owns more than 2,500 railway stations, divided into [[United Kingdom railway station categories|six categories]]. Management and operation of most of them is carried out mostly by the principal [[List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom|train operating company]] serving that station; however, in a few cases the train operating company does not serve the station. For example, {{rws|Hinckley}} is served by [[CrossCountry]], but it is managed by [[East Midlands Railway]]. {{As of|2018|04}}, Network Rail manages 20 stations directly, with Clapham Junction and Guildford becoming managed stations on 1 April 2018.<ref name="networkrail.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/ |title=Our stations |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=19 April 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418010813/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/ |archive-date=18 April 2018  }}</ref> The stations Network Rail operate are:
{{col-begin||width=75%}}
{{col-2}}
'''National'''
*{{rws|Birmingham New Street}}
*{{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}
*{{rws|Edinburgh Waverley}}
*{{stn|Glasgow Central}}
*{{rws|Guildford}}
*{{rws|Leeds}}
*{{rws|Liverpool Lime Street}}
*{{stn|Manchester Piccadilly}}
*{{rws|Reading}}
{{col-2}}
'''London stations'''
*[[London Bridge station|London Bridge]]
*[[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]]
*{{rws|London Charing Cross}}
*{{rws|Clapham Junction}}
*{{rws|London Euston}}
*{{rws|London King's Cross}}
*[[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]]
*[[London Paddington station|London Paddington]]
*[[St Pancras station|London St Pancras International]] 
*[[London Victoria station|London Victoria]]
*[[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]]
{{col-end}}

Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street stations are divided into high and low-level stations – the high-level stations are all termini used primarily by the main inter-city services to those stations. The low-level stations are through routes on local commuter networks that are largely separate from other routes to the main station; these platforms are not managed by Network Rail, but instead by the rail operator that primarily uses them, [[ScotRail]] and [[Merseyrail]] respectively.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Network Rail operated {{rws|Gatwick Airport}} station until January 2012 when it was transferred to [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]], and {{rws|Fenchurch Street}} until November 2014 when it was transferred to [[c2c]]. Network Rail took over management of Bristol Temple Meads and Reading in April 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Railnews: Royal opening for modernised Reading |url= http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2014/07/17-royal-opening-for-modernised-reading.html |date=July 2014 |access-date=22 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150403012204/http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2014/07/17-royal-opening-for-modernised-reading.html |archive-date=3 April 2015 }}</ref>

A DfT franchise report in 2014 stated Network Rail's intention to subsume more major stations into Network Rail's directly operated portfolio. The report earmarked {{rws|York}} for Network Rail management, as well as [[Manchester Oxford Road railway station|Manchester Oxford Road]] and [[Manchester Victoria railway station|Manchester Victoria]] which are currently undergoing major rebuilding as part of the [[Northern Hub]].<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318230/tpe-prospectus.pdf |last=Department for Transport Rail Executive |title=Growth and Opportunity: TransPennine Express Prospectus |date=June 2014 |page=82 |access-date=3 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170425082237/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318230/tpe-prospectus.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2017 }}</ref> However {{as of|2017|9|lc=1}} the two Manchester stations remained under the operatorship of [[Arriva Rail North]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/MCO/details.html |title=Manchester Oxford Road station facilities |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=10 September 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170911024411/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/MCO/details.html|archive-date=11 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/MCV/details.html|title=Manchester Victoria station facilities |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=20 September 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110817083349/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/MCV/details.html |archive-date=17 August 2011 }}</ref>

There are a small number of stations on the National Rail network that are not owned by Network Rail. As of 2022<ref>{{cite book |title=Network Statement 2023 |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Network-Statement-2023.pdf |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=25 September 2023 |page=22|format=PDF<!--Deny Citation Bot-->}}</ref> these are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Station name
! Owner
|-
|{{rws|Ardrossan Harbour}}
| [[Peel Ports]]
|-
|-
|{{rws|Aylesbury Vale Parkway}}
| [[Public-private partnership|Aylesbury Vale Parkway Ltd]]
|-
|{{rws|Bromsgrove}}
| [[West Midlands Combined Authority]]
|-
|{{rws|Coleshill Parkway}}
| [[Public-private partnership|Coleshill Parkway Ltd]]
|-
|{{rws|Dunrobin Castle}}
| [[Earl of Sutherland]]
|-
|{{rws|Ebbsfleet International}}
| [[High Speed 1|HS1 Ltd]]
|-
|{{rws|Fishguard Harbour}}
| [[Stena Line]]
|-
|{{rws|Horwich Parkway}}
| [[Transport for Greater Manchester]]
|-
|{{rws|Prestwick International Airport}}
| [[Glasgow Prestwick Airport]]
|-
|{{rws|Southend Airport}}
| [[London Southend Airport]]
|-
|{{rws|Stranraer}}
| [[Stena Line]]
|-
|{{rws|Stratford International}}
| [[High Speed 1|HS1 Ltd]]
|-
|{{rws|Warwick Parkway}}
| [[Warwickshire County Council]]
|}

===Training facilities===
[[File:Network Rail 30July06.JPG|thumb|Network Rail's Coventry leadership development centre, Westwood.]]
Network Rail has several training and development sites around Britain. These include sites in York, Peterborough, Derby, Leeds, [[Walsall]] and [[Larbert]] which provide refresher courses, and train staff in new equipment. Advanced Apprentice Scheme trainees are trained at Network Rail's Westwood training centre for the first five months of their apprenticeship and then are trained further at {{HMS|Sultan|shore establishment|6}} in Gosport over seven 2-week periods or five 3-week periods (throughout their second and third year) of their apprenticeship, using a combination of [[Royal Navy]] facilities and a specially installed training centre. All courses are taught by VT Flagship (part of [[Babcock International]]) in the first year but apprentices are trained by Network Rail staff in the second and third years.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/schemes/students-and-graduates/advanced-apprenticeship-scheme/ |title=Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme |publisher=Network Rail |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161026233524/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/schemes/students-and-graduates/advanced-apprenticeship-scheme/ |archive-date=26 October 2016 }}</ref> Network Rail bought a residential centre from [[Cable & Wireless plc|Cable and Wireless]] in the Westwood Business Centre near [[Coventry]] for leadership development. The company and other industry partners such as [[VolkerRail]] and Balfour Beatty also operate a Foundation Degree in conjunction with [[Sheffield Hallam University]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In 2008, Network Rail piloted its first qualification in "track engineering". It has been given permission to develop courses equivalent to GCSE and A-levels.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7211958.stm |title=McDonald's 'A-level' is launched |work=BBC News |date=27 January 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160306121756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7211958.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 }}</ref>

===Telecoms assets===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}
Network Rail operates various essential telecommunication circuits for signalling and electrification control systems, train radio systems, lineside communications, level crossing CCTV, station information and security systems as well as more general IT and business telephony needs. The fixed bearer network infrastructure comprises transmission systems and telephone exchanges linked by a fibre optic and copper cable network that is located mainly within trackside troughing routes on the former [[British Rail Telecommunications]] network. (It is the largest private telecoms network in the UK).

Network Rail operates several analogue radio networks that support mobile communication applications for drivers and lineside workers which consist of base stations, antenna systems and control equipment. The National Radio Network (NRN) was developed specifically for the operational railway; it provides radio coverage for 98% of the rail network through 500 base stations and 21 radio exchanges. The Radio Electronic Token Block [[RETB]] system is based on similar technology as the NRN and ORN but provides data communication for signalling token exchange as well as voice communication.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

Fixed communication at trackside is provided by telephone. These are primarily provided for signallers to communicate with train crew, via telephones mounted on signal posts, and with the public through telephones located at level crossings.
GAI-Tronics provides many of the telephones sited on trackside and at level crossings. They also provide Public Access Help Points on platforms and stations to provide passengers with easy access to Information and Emergency control centres.

[[GSM-R]] radio systems are being introduced across [[Europe]] under [[European Union|EU]] legislation for interoperability. In the UK, as of March 2014, Network Rail is well underway in the UK implementation of GSM-R to replace its legacy National Radio Network (NRN) and Cab Secure Radio (CSR) systems currently in use.

===Rolling stock===
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2023}}
Network Rail operates a large variety of DMUs, locomotives and rolling stock to perform safety checks and maintenance (this fleet is not to be confused with the combined rolling stock assets of [[Rail Delivery Group]] members who work in combination as ''[[National Rail]]''). As well as the multiple units and locomotives, Network Rail own and operate a large stock of rolling stock for particular testing duties and track maintenance. Network Rail also hire freight locomotives from various freight operators including [[DB Cargo UK]], [[Freightliner Group|Freightliner]], [[Colas Rail]] and [[GB Railfreight]] amongst others to operate engineers' trains in support of maintenance and renewal work. Network Rail's Infrastructure Monitoring fleet of test trains is operated by Colas Rail, primarily using locomotives from Colas' and Network Rail's own fleets,<ref name = "fine record2016">{{cite magazine |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/rail-features/a-fine-track-record |title = A fine track record |magazine = Rail Magazine |first = Richard |last = Clinnick |date = 21 November 2016}}</ref> but have also used locomotives hired from other companies such as [[Direct Rail Services]], GB Railfreight and [[Europhoenix]] as required.
<gallery>
File:2009 at Fairwater crane 96715.JPG|Breakdown crane
File:Switch and Crossing Rail Grinder DR79261 and DR79271.jpg|[[Railgrinder]] for switches and crossings
File:Tamworth railway station MMB 27 43062.jpg|[[New Measurement Train]]
File:DR 98931 Tonbridge to Tonbridge (22476971424).jpg|Railhead treatment train
File:Didcot - Network Rail DR80211 (66005).JPG|[[Stoneblower]] at {{stnlnk|Didcot}}
File:Class 37 97302.jpg|[[British Rail Class 97|Class 97/3]] Locomotive for [[ERTMS in Great Britain|ERTMS]] Testing purposes.
</gallery>