Network Rail boss says 24-hour trains will be arriving soon: Firm is paving the way for a round-the-clock timetable in the ‘not too distant future’
- Chief executive Mark Carne said it will make it more relevant for the 21st century
- The move would pose difficulties for engineers who carry out repairs overnight
- The Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said firms would consider timetable changes ‘where there is demand’
Trains could soon run 24-hours a day, according to the head of Network Rail.
The Government-funded company said it was paving the way for a round-the-clock timetable in the ‘not too distant future’ amid demands for a modernised service.
Chief executive Mark Carne said the move was part of an overhaul to make the railway more relevant for the 21st century.
Trackside controls could be replaced by digital signalling on more than two-thirds of the Victorian network within 15-years, improving efficiency, he said.
But the move would pose difficulties for engineers who already struggle to carry out repairs overnight.
Mr Carne, who said in February he was quitting Network Rail this summer after four years in charge, told The Times: ‘Over time what do people want from a railway? They want something that is more relevant to their lifestyle and today people’s lifestyles are 24-hour.’
He said he anticipated operators would come to him in the ‘not-too-distant future’ over 24-hour trains. The Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said firms would consider timetable changes ‘where there is demand’.