We know that major capital investment is needed but infrastructure enhancement and new rolling stock take some time to deliver. We must find some shorter term solutions. Also, before we take forward new investment we should satisfy ourselves that we are using the existing network in the best possible way. Developing and implementing a Capacity Utilisation Policy will ensure that we can do this.

The way in which rail services have developed since privatisation has mainly resulted from the active determination of individual train service providers to increase revenues by improving services to their customers. It is by no means clear that the combination of the inherited service pattern which British Rail provided, and the changes since, do represent the best use of a scarce network resource.

What we intend, through the Capacity Utilisation Policy, is to address these issues by creating a forward planning process. In this way we will be able to identify the best combination of services that will enable the industry to operate reliable timetables for both passenger and freight trains and to provide the right level of access for engineering and maintenance purposes. The SRA’s intention is to consider the capacity of the network holistically. This is likely to result in some significant changes to the way we use the network – alterations to timetables, improvements in operating practices, different ways of deploying rolling stock and changes in the way we seek to minimise service disruption at times when access is needed for the engineers."