Easements and Wayleaves

Network Rail grants easements and wayleaves to statutory providers of utilities and telecoms networks to run services along, under or over Network Rail land. It is also prepared to negotiate easements on commercial terms with private industry, commercial developers etc.

These include cables and pipelines for telecoms, gas, electricity and water companies and many different facilities, including access requirements for the private sector. Similar arrangements are in place to facilitate the installation of cables and masts for most major telecommunications network operators.

Network Rail groups these under three areas:

• Utilities
• Telecommunications
• Commercial

The common thread running through all three is that the first priority is always to meet the operational and safety needs of the railway.

For general enquiries please email easements&wayleaves@networkrail.co.uk.

It’s a commercial property matter

Network Rail’s Commercial Property organisation handles all negotiations of terms and arranges the completion of property agreements.

Please see ‘Contact Us’ for the list of appropriate contacts.

And an operational one

In providing these utilities, there are operational matters to consider regarding your infrastructure where it interfaces with the railway network in some way. The issue is one of practicality – how to get crossovers, pipelines, cables and masts on, under or over the railway infrastructure while safeguarding the integrity of the railway. What may appear to be just a strip of land with two rail lines running along it may, in fact be a corridor of complex, tightly packed, high-tech communication infrastructure that cannot be disturbed.

You will need to consult our Outside Party Engineers well in advance for either a feasibility study prior to making any formal application for your proposal or to carry out repairs or maintenance to any existing facility under the terms of your easement or wayleave agreement.