The U.K. will invest € 27,000 M during the next five years

On the occasion of the 2012 olympics, the UK began to improve its railway system, even though it is now when the country is strongly committed to this transport mean. Its focus has been basically four major projects: crossrail, high speed 2, nothernrail and thameslink. Also, for 2019 the number of passengers is expected to increase 14% and freight traffic 19%.

The railway network in Great Britain is the oldest in the world. It currently has a length of 16,534 kilometres, with a width of 1,435 mm. Northern Ireland has a 341 km network of 1,600 mm wide. After the impulse that led to the re­alization of the Olympics, the United Kingdom proposed to hold a strong remodelation of its railways. From 2014 to 2019, the UK will invest an annual average of 5,500 million eu­ros, which is primarily to increase the capacity of its lines and improve the reliability thereof. Among the major projects planned are Crossrail’s line metro, that will connect the capital from west to east; a second High Speed line (High Speed 2); and the projects called Thameslink and Nor­hernrail. With all these infraestruc­ture, the UK will connect the big cit­ies with a modern system that will improve the lives of the English in their ability to move.

Also, other investments are going to be realized:

■ Upgrade of rail infrastructure and rolling stock. The Government has committed to invest almost 13.999 million euros in the railway network within the High Level Output Speci­fication (HLOS). The line between Scotland and London will also be renewed.

■ As for improvements in capacity, the UK has proposed an investment of 290 million euros for the line South West Trains.

■ The renovation of the electrifica­tion of the Great Western line is also planned, a work that will end in 2017. Improvements will also be made in Midland Main Line and the line Bedford and Oxford.

■ Upgrading stations is another investment approved by the UK. Among them, Reading station, Manchester Victoria Station, Temple Bristlol Meeds. Also, two new sta­tions for the line Leeds-Bradford will be built.

■ Increased strategic rail freight ca­pacity on the route from Felixstowe to Nuneton.

■ The investment program in the subway includes improvements in the Metropolitan, Circle/Hammer­smith and Distrit lines.

■ And finally, the creation of a new station on the line Gogar Rail Inter­change and a stop at the Edinburgh tram system aim to improve access to the airport.