Network Rail to spend almost £5bn on Scotland’s railways

Network Rail says it is investing almost £5bn in Scotland’s railways to improve train travel over the next five years.

Between now and March 2029 bosses plan to spend £4.8bn on improving punctuality, cutting delays and making the network more resilient to bad weather. More than £2bn will be spent on renewing key infrastructure, with some £1bn to go on maintenance work.

More remote monitoring equipment will be installed to give an early warning of potential problems, while there will be investment in drainage and other technology to monitor the impact of extreme weather.

Network Rail is also pledging “dedicated plans” to cut the carbon footprint of Scottish railways, and is proposing to reduce costs by adopting new ways of working.

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, which brings together about 150 organisations and suppliers from across the sector, said: “The plan we have announced today will help us deliver a safe and reliable railway for our customers and one which supports the social and economic growth of the communities we serve.

“Over the next five years we will continue to invest in renewing and maintaining our infrastructure while also making it more resilient to Scotland’s changing weather.

“We will also work closely with our industry partners and government to ensure we deliver a value for money railway for the taxpayers who fund us while improving the service we offer to passengers and freight customers.”

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