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Network Planning
Route Plans
Network Specifications
Our Network Specifications provide a description of the current capability and use of each strategic route and those enhancements to the network that are currently committed or under consideration.
Better performanceto hit 92% punctualityby 2014
More seatscapacity to grow 50%between Edinburgh and Glasgow
More passengersdemand up by 50%across Scotland in last 10 years
More freight capacitylarger containersbetween Berwick and Carstairs by 2014
More passenger and freight£500 million on improvementsbetween London and York by 2014
12-car trainslonger platformsat six First Capital Connect stations
More freight capacitylarger containersbetween Felixstowe and Yorkshire by 2014
Quicker journeys90 minutes between Birmingham and London Marylebone
Birmingham New Streettransformedwith a larger concourse and better retail and city links
More trains3 trains per hour between Bromsgrove, Redditch and Birmingham
Faster, quieter journeysnew electrified routes between Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Blackpool North
Faster trainsup to 125mphon some routes, plus other increases by 2014
More passengers42% increasebetween Nottingham and Birmingham by 2019
More freight capacitylarger containersbetween Doncaster and Water Orton via Erewash Valley by 2014
More passengers34% increase in demand to and from Leicester by 2019
Extra seats+3,600 seatsinto London Bridge in the peak hour after completion of Thameslink
More trainsup to 24 trains per hour running via Thameslink
Longer platformsaround 50 lengthened to cater for 12-carriage trains
Quicker journeys30 minutes fasterbetween Ashford and London
More seats+5,500 seats on suburban routes into London Waterloo by 2031
More capacity5 platformsat London Waterloo
More seats+3,100 seats on Windsor lines into London Waterloo by 2031
Longer platforms65 stations will receive extended platforms
More capacitynew platform at Cambridgeallowing 12-car trains into London King's Cross and London Liverpool Street
Supporting London 2012500,000 passengers per daywill travel by rail into Stratford
More passengers49% increasein Great Eastern outer service demand
More passengers63% increase in Great Eastern inner service demand
Quicker journeys10 mins faster between Rhyl and Newport
More seatsUp to 16 trains per hour for commuters to Cardiff
Quicker journeys10 mins faster to London from principal stations in 2017
Quicker journeys22 minutes fasterbetween Bristol and London
Crossrail24 trains per hourfrom the Thames Valley and Heathrow across London
Transforming Reading stationmajor worksto accommodate 14 million passengers
More freight capacitylarger containersbetween Southampton and the West Coast
More passengers37% increasein outer commuter growth to London Victoria by 2031
More passengers83% increasein outer commuter growth to London Bridge by 2031
Longer platforms48 stationsto receive extended platforms
More passengers109% increasealong the West London Line by 2031
The Network and Route Specification documents were published at the same time as the Initial Industry Plan in September 2011 and were informed by the existing suite of Route Utilisation Strategies. They will be a key element of the new Long Term Planning Process.
The Network Specification sets out the current context, capability and future plans for the route.
The Route Specifications form an appendix to the main Network Specifications and set out the capabilities of each strategic route section and future schemes in detail.
Anglia
Network Specification2.6 MB PDF
Route Specifications1.9 MB PDF
London North Western
Network Specification4.1 MB PDF
Route Specifications4.4 MB PDF
Wales
Network Specification3.0 MB PDF
Route Specifications1.4 MB PDF
East Midlands
Network Specification2.4 MB PDF
Route Specifications1.2 MB PDF
Scotland
Network Specification1.3 MB PDF
Route Specifications2.9 MB PDF
Wessex
Network Specification3.1 MB PDF
Kent and High Speed One
Network Specification4.4 MB PDF
Route Specifications1.3 MB PDF
Sussex
Network Specification1.0 MB PDF
Route Specifications3.0 MB PDF
Western
Network Specification2.2 MB PDF
Route Specifications2.5 MB PDF
London North Eastern
Network Specification2.1 MB PDF
Route Specifications4.2 MB PDF
UK Traction Power Supply System Strength 0.8 MB PDF
We've changed the way we categorise our routes. If you're looking for a previous year's Route Plan, visit the archive.
We plan the rail network by developing Route Utilisation Strategies on behalf of the industry, and work with them to develop the Initial Industry Plans.
The new Long Term Planning Process will take forward the evidence base used for long term rail industry planning.