The UK Department for Transport is considering forcing Network Rail to entrust the telecommunications services to the private sector. Among the interested companies may be BT, Vodafone and O2.
A senior rail industry source said the DfT wants Network Rail to concentrate on “core work”, such as maintenance and repairs. The tender or sale of telecoms services could bring hundreds of millions of pounds for Network Rail, according to the source.
A Network Rail source confirmed that the DfT is looking at “commercial options” to run the railway’s telecoms systems, with a final decision unlikely until the summer.
Photo: Network Rail
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