Media centre

Notes to editors

Key extracts

The importance of sustained investment: “In the new age of austerity the passenger’s interests and those of the taxpayer are not necessarily aligned. How many people in our country will write urging the Government to protect the railway when their local hospital might close? Do people want new trains or more police? Is Crossrail or Trident more important? There will be trade-offs. Make no mistake, there will be losers. And rail could be one of them.”

"The investment that we fought so hard to secure still has a strong business case.  Whatever the reality, London has a perception of having a poorer transport network than many of its competitors. We are challenging that but if we call a halt to investment, perception will become a reality.  Our rivals will not stop improving and international business will vote with its feet.”

“We all have a responsibility to fight for London’s public transport network or we will leave our fate in the hands of others. We should use every opportunity to enter the debate and inspire our businesses, our passengers and our politicians to make the case again for those rail projects that offer so much for London’s future.”

On cutting costs: "Network Rail was born with the challenge of cuttings costs whilst improving its service. We've been doing it since 2003 and over the last five years we've cut £6.5bn from the cost of running the national rail network."

"If we are to create a healthy and sustainable future for rail we have a duty to drive out cost and waste and avoid spending on what isn't needed or doesn't deliver value."

"So becoming leaner and more efficient is not just important, it is an imperative. But let me be clear - we need to push very hard on cutting costs, but not cutting corners."

Thameslink: "Finishing Thameslink makes a good business case a great business case. When the full Thameslink scheme is delivered London’s rail arteries will be further unblocked. London Bridge station will be able to take twice as many passengers, and trains will no longer have to terminate at peak times freeing up vital space on the Northern and Victoria Lines. So, completing Thameslink isn’t just important for the railway. It is important for the tube as well.”

Crossrail: “Network Rail supports Crossrail not just as a deliverer, but as a full partner. Without us Crossrail simply would not be possible. We are delivering all of the ‘surface’ work, we own the timetable that Crossrail relies on and it was our timetable modelling work that proved the key to unlocking the £15.9bn funding package. We have the massive responsibility of integrating Crossrail with the railway to the east and west of London, and we are delivering and financing £2.3bn of the work. Furthermore, we will be maintaining the entire infrastructure apart from stations including the tunnel.”