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Wednesday 14 Jul 2004

MILLIONS TO BE GENERATED FROM RAILWAY ADVERTISING FOR RE-INVESTMENT IN THE RAIL NETWORK

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National

Network Rail today announced that Maiden Outdoor has been selected as the preferred bidder to manage the new contract overseeing advertising and promotions at its 17 managed stations.   The ten-year advertising contract, once awarded, will start in the autumn and give exclusive sales rights to advertising opportunities at Network Rail’s managed stations. Maiden Outdoor havs also been selected as the preferred bidder for the five year combined distribution and exhibition contract . The potential sales value of the advertising and promotions portfolio at Network Rail’s managed stations is approximately £450 million over the ten-year period, with all the profits being ploughed back into the operational railway.  The preferred bidder was selected following a four- way competitive tender. Deborah Richards, Director, Railway Estates, Network Rail said, “This is potentially great news for the company and the railway as Network Rail, using external expertise, can use its property assets to generate income that can be reinvested into rebuilding the railway.” “Maiden Outdoor demonstrated the ability to return the best revenues and showed a thorough understanding of the communication channels available to the 650 million people who visit our stations each year.” Notes to editors: Network Rail own 2500 of the UK’s railway stations and retain direct commercial and operational control of 17 of the largest. These are: Birmingham New Street, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Gatwick Airport, Glasgow Central, King’s Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo. Network Rail, the operator of Britain’s rail network, is the ‘not for dividend’ successor to Railtrack.  Its objective is clear: to provide safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure.  Network Rail owns and maintains the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations of Britain’s railway.  It provides access to the tracks and stations for every passenger and freight train, timetables their movements and operates the signalling. Network Rail’s focus is clear – operations, maintenance and renewal. Its vision is uncompromising – engineering excellence for Britain’s railway.  The company is determined to build upon the high levels of safety which exist in every aspect of its activities.  Network Rail is a company limited by guarantee with members instead of shareholders.  It is run along commercial lines but any operating surplus is re-invested in the rail network.  This innovative structure ensures that investment is funded at very low cost, and the suggestion of putting profit before safety is removed. Details about the company can be found on the Network Rail web site: www.networkrail.co.uk For media enquiries please contact the Network Rail press office on 020 7557 8292 / 3