The Government has pledged an extra £300m for Network Rail to boost the resilience of struggling Southern and Thameslink rail services.
Network Rail said a package of improvement work will improve reliability along the Brighton Main Line and associated routes, including the replacement of old tracks, points and signalling and dealing with structural repairs in tunnels.
The new funds will improve network resilience
The £300m is on top of funding of £20m for improvement works announced in September 2016 by transport secretary Chris Grayling to support the struggling franchise.
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman told Transport Network the funding is new money for Network Rail and will be found from existing DfT budgets.
He said: ‘Improving rail services for Southern passengers is a priority for the Government and we are committed to a railway that delivers the timely, modern and convenient service passengers expect. Our priority is getting the unions to return to the table, ending the misery for the hundreds of thousands of people that use Southern every day.
‘But hand in hand with tackling this industrial dispute, we are funding improvements to the network’s infrastructure to make more reliable services possible.’
John Halsall, Network Rail route managing director for the South East route, said: ‘Working together with Govia Thameslink Railway, this much-needed funding will allow us to carry out essential upgrades to improve the reliability of journeys for passengers over the next few years.’
Work funded by the extra £300m will include:
- improving the resilience in areas known to cause delays;
- replacing signalling and rebuilding old bridges;
- building specific teams to coordinate upgrade work;
- improving security by the railway to help prevent trespass;
- improving drainage in old tunnels to prevent water damage to electrical equipment;
- shoring up cuttings and embankments to reduce the risk of landslides.
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