There is a broad political consensus that Britain must have a high-speed rail system in the future, says British rail operator Network Rail CE Iain Coucher.

This follows the publication of a White Paper by the UK government that mandates the need for a high-speed rail system.

“High-speed rail is a vital part of a modern, dynamic economy. By slashing journey times, high-speed rail can drive economic growth and boost jobs. It would also take cars and lorries off the road, reduce domestic flights and release capacity on the existing rail network, transforming services even for those communities not served directly by a high-speed line. It is the low-carbon, sustainable transport of the future,” he says.

The company will now analyse the White Paper to determine how the proposals will fit into the current railway network. The company will liaise with the UK government to develop the high-speed lines, which make best use of the capacity of the entire network.

Coucher says that the high-speed service must be affordable to the nation and must be as simple to operate as possible.

“Achieving a significant modal shift from air to rail has to be one of the core objectives of the development of high-speed rail. “There should be the minimum possible disruption to passengers during the construction period and funding for high-speed rail should not be at the expense of investment in the existing network,” he says.

Network Rail operations and customer service director Robin Gibsy says: “Last year, we announced a £3,25-billion, five-year investment programme for stations. With punctuality at record levels, passengers now demand better and brighter stations.”

Over the next five years, more than 2 000 stations are to benefit from some kind of improvements.

The total investment of £3,25-billion does not only include Network Rail’s funds, but all the investment being targeted at stations over the next five years, including funds from the Department for Transport, train operators, the Scottish government, the Welsh Assembly government, passenger transport executives, local authorities and other third parties.

There are around 2 500 stations owned by Network Rail across Great Britain. The company manages the largest and busiest stations.

Newly appointed stations director Mike Goggin says: “This is an exciting time to be working in station development. Stations face the biggest transformation in a generation. “Work is under way at large, medium and small stations all over the country, or is in advanced planning to improve facilities for passengers.”

Its new lines programme was announced through its publication of ‘Strategic Busi-ness Case for New Lines,’ which was published at a time when more passengers were choosing to travel by rail than at any other time for sixty years, reports Network Rail. The company states that railway transporta- tion is safer than it has ever been, and punctuality is at its high- est.

Britain’s rail infrastructure operator has undertaken the study to examine the strategic case for new lines and help shape the future of railways.

The key aim of the new line project is to meet future demands for additional rail capacity from passengers and freight users.