We work hard to develop the railway for the 21st century, while keeping an eye on preserving its built heritage.
In 1825 the Stockton and Darlington railway opened. Designed for the movement of coal, passenger services ran on the Company’s rails but were pulled by horses.
In 1830 the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened – the world’s first intercity railway line. It delivered both passenger and freight services by steam locomotive from the start.
The ‘railway mania’ of the 1840s saw unprecedented investment in railway company shares, enabling the rapid development of railway lines. Many lines that make up today’s railway network were authorised for construction in this period.
Throughout the 19th century many aspects of today’s railway were established and standardised; the ‘standard gauge’ distance between tracks, signalling principles, electrified lines and timetabling.
In 1923 the main railway companies joined together to create the ‘Big Four’; London, Midland and Scottish Railway, London and North Eastern Railway, Great Western Railway and Southern Railway companies.
The railway played a significant role throughout both World Wars, enabling the rapid movement of troops and supplies, as well as supporting communities and industry at home.
In 1948, Britain’s railways were nationalised. With its focus on railway modernisation, plans included the electrification of key routes, replacing steam locomotives with diesel and electric and rationalising the network.
Between 1965 and 1994 the railway ran under the name ‘British Rail’, managing, operating and maintaining most aspects of the industry. British Rail introduced the famous ‘double arrow’ logo, which still identifies passenger railway services today.
On 1 April 1994 Railtrack took control of Britain’s railway infrastructure as part of government legislation to privatise Britain’s railways. Railtrack was listed on the London Stock Exchange and the FTSE100. Passenger and freight services were offered on a franchise basis to private operating companies.
On 3 October 2002 Network Rail acquired Railtrack and became the owner and operator of the railway infrastructure. Without any shareholders, all profits are invested directly in railway improvements.
In 2014 Network Rail was reclassified as an arm’s length public sector body, with the commercial freedom to manage and develop Britain’s railway infrastructure. Our Board is responsible to the Secretary of State for Transport.
Network Rail plays an active role in preserving railway artefacts and records for future generations.
Respecting our railway history and heritage is an important part of what we do – as we undertake major projects and in our day-to-day work developing the railway infrastructure for the 21st century.
The Railway Heritage Act
The railway is the only industry that has specific legislation protecting its heritage. The Railway Heritage Act enables historically significant artefacts and records that are operational within today’s railway industry to be ‘designated’ – protected and saved for the nation so that future generations will be able to understand the history of the railway in Britain.
The Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board (RHDAB) is the body that decides which artefacts and records are historically significant enough to be designated. Its membership is drawn from the railway industry, museums, archives and the railway heritage sector. When designated artefacts and records are no longer required by the operational railway, the Board also agrees where these items will go in order to be preserved and made accessible to the public.
Network Rail is represented on the RHDAB by Vicky Stretch, our Archivist.
A full list of artefacts and records that have designated status can be found on the RHDAB website.
Network Rail works hard to develop the railway for the 21st century, while keeping an eye on preserving its built heritage.
The railway has a powerful impact on people and the landscape; development work on the layout of the railway as well as our bridges, tunnels and stations often alters its original construction in some way. Being able to do this sympathetically is important to Network Rail and we work with industry partners to do this where we can.
The Historical Railways Estate
The Historical Railways Estate (HRE) is a collection of over 3,100 structures and assets which were once part of Britain’s rail network. Since 2013 National Highways have been responsible for looking after the Estate on behalf of the Department for Transport. Many of the structures were built more than 100 years ago. The HRE team of engineers uses well-established methods to maintain the Estate, including yearly inspections of all structures. You can find out more about National Highways work on the HRE here.
The Railway Heritage Trust
The Railway Heritage Trust supports the preservation and maintenance of listed buildings and structures that are either owned by Network Rail or that form part of the National Highways Historical Railways Estate. The Trust does this through advice on preservation and maintenance as well as its formal grant programme.
Network Rail applies for grants to help with the repair, restoration and reinstatement of heritage building features and equipment as part of our civil engineering and railway regeneration projects.
You can find out more about Network Rail projects that have benefitted from grants from the Railway Heritage Trust.
National Railway Heritage Awards
Network Rail is proud of the work we do in relation to preserving and maintaining our historic infrastructure. Occasionally we enter our projects to the National Railway Heritage Awards.
The National Railway Heritage Awards was established in 1979 and celebrates the implementation of best practice, high standards, careful design and quality of workmanship in the restoration and maintenance of buildings, structures and signalling installations.
We are working with railway heritage organisations to document the history, operation and way of life associated with signal boxes.
Of all the buildings developed specifically for the railways, the signal box holds a special place as one of the most instantly recognisable. Located at the trackside, they are unmistakable in the landscape.
Image gallery
Bournemouth West signal box, 2007
Inside Severn Bridge signal box, 1962
Blea Moor signal box, 2008
Inside Ramsgate signal box, 2011
Stow Park signal box, 2011
The next chapter in the history of signalling
The consolidation of more than 800 signal boxes into state of the art rail operating centres begins the next chapter in the history of signalling on Britain’s railway. The introduction of a new rail traffic management technology in these centres will improve both capacity and performance on the railway network.
Before this programme began we worked with English Heritage, Historic Scotland, and Cadw to inventory, research and make sure that the most significant signal boxes on the network were listed and save for the nation.
Film Archive of Railway Signalling and People (FARSAP)
Alongside this, Network Rail has been working with other railway heritage organisations to enable a record of signalling operations and the unique way of life associated with signal boxes to be made. You can find out more about the FARSAP project and access film of signal boxes in action here.
Disposal of Redundant Assets
We recognise many Heritage Railways, community projects and charities rely on donations and good will to achieve their goals. Network Rail operates a Non-Monetary Bid request process to support these projects where possible.
Our Disposal of Redundant Assets Policy (NR/L2/SCO/306 and NR/L3/SCO/306) defines when and how. Both documents can be downloaded free-of-charge from our user-friendly Standards portal, which is available to all of Network Rail’s external contractors, suppliers and industry associates with a company registration number.
