Network Rail has created the new Southern region to which Wessex and South East routes joined, benefiting huge investment to improve train services for passengers. The new Southern region will be formed by four routes – Wessex, Sussex, Kent and Network Rail High Speed.
The two new routes have joined in a move which will shift power and decision making into smaller, regional organisations that are closer to customers and will give local managers the levers and authority to tackle performance issues head-on.
GBP 6.3 billion (EUR 7 billion) will be invested over the next five years to operate, maintain and renew the railway across the region, which also serves as a vital freight link, with more than 266,000 tonnes of freight passing through each week.
“Our new region means we will be able to be more supportive of the routes, build on how we work with our train and freight operators and regional stakeholders and become a company that’s easy to work with. Putting passengers first and addressing the decline in train performance have to be our priorities, and these changes will help us deliver the better service that passengers and freight users deserve,” John Halsall said, which was appointed to lead the Southern region. Previously, he served as managing director of both the South East and Wessex routes.
The Southern region is the busiest region in the country, with 700 million passenger journeys a year and more than 7,000 passenger and freight services every weekday.
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