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Maintaining and renewing our country’s rail infrastructure is critical to delivering the railway that passengers and freight countries expect and for supporting economic growth.

Every 5 years the government is required to set out what we wish to achieve from the operations, maintenance and renewal of the railway. This is done through a document known as a high-level output specification, and the funding available is set out through a statement of funds available.

I am today (1 December 2022) publishing the objectives and funds available for operational railway infrastructure in England and Wales for the next control period - control period 7. This covers the period April 2024 to March 2029.

The government fully recognises the critical role rail services played for business, key workers and our society during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the vital role they play in connecting communities and supporting economic growth.

The high-level output specification makes it clear that the government will press ahead with rail reform, addressing the challenges facing the sector, such as fragmentation and outdated working practices, with a strong continued focus on operations, maintenance and renewal. This strong continued focus is important in supporting a safe, efficient and reliable railway for passengers and freight customers.

Achieving these objectives will be facilitated by significant government investment as set out in the statement of funds available, with Network Rail spending around £44 billion over the period April 2024 to March 2029.

The government now expects Network Rail to develop detailed plans to deliver on these objectives, working closely with its customers. These will then be subject to strong and effective scrutiny by the Office of Rail and Road, as independent regulator, to develop robust, credible, value for money plans for the next control period.

Published 1 December 2022