Media centre

Notes to editors

Route Utilisation Strategies seek to balance capacity, passenger and freight demand, operational performance and cost, to address the requirements of funding bodies and stakeholders. Network Rail will take account of the recommendations outlined in a RUS when carrying out its activities to improve, maintain and manage the railway. In particular, the strategies will be used to inform the allocation of capacity on the network through application of the normal Network Code processes. Recommendations in detail: Long-distance routes: • New Intercity Express trains will be introduced (pre-series trains in 2012), offering more capacity, quicker acceleration and shorter braking distances. • Repeating standard hourly or two-hourly timetable • Capacity at King’s Cross will be increased as part of the station’s major redevelopment due for completion in 2012. • Upgrading the south-bound line between Alexandra Palace and Finsbury Park to increase capacity • Major upgrades to add more diversionary routes will increase capacity and offer viable alternative routes while the main line is upgraded. The diversionary routes to be improved include the Hertford Loop and Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln • Peterborough station will also be improved with a new platform separating East Anglia services and north-bound long-distance trains London and South East routes: • Extension of all inner-suburban peak services to six carriages • Extend inner-suburban services into King's Cross north of Welwyn Garden City providing more outer-suburban peak services • Progressive implementation of 12-car outer-suburban peak services • ECML suburban services will also be able to use the Thameslink route once the programme is fully completed by 2016, freeing up capacity at King’s Cross York, Newcastle, Tyne and Tees, Edinburgh: • Improvements to the regularity of services • Increasing peak capacity into Middlesbrough and Newcastle by lengthening trains • Shorter journey times to and from London Yorkshire and Humberside RUS Network Rail will be developing a similar strategy for Yorkshire and Humberside, a draft of which is due to be published for consultation later this year. Freight services: • Routes connecting Peterborough with East Anglian ports and the West Midlands will be upgraded. Structures such as bridges and tunnels above the railway will continue to be enlarged enabling freight trains to carry larger standard containers on standard-height wagons. • The upgrade of routes via Hertford and Lincoln, as well as exploring other route upgrades to provide flexible capacity for strong freight growth • Upgrading Shaftholme Junction to increase capacity north of Doncaster