The five functional priorities are industry agreed focus areas where rapid progress is needed and new technical solutions are critical. For each priority, explore the key goals and the ‘routemap’ that highlights the steps needed in the next five years to get to a sound position by the end of Control Period 7 and continue the essential groundwork for progression towards the 2040 vision.
Freight Friendly is a new priority for 2024. All the other priorities will be reviewed and refreshed during the year.
Rail will deliver an excellent travel experience to regular and occasional passengers thanks to dependable real-time information, innovative payment methods, and improved solutions for accessibility.
Find out moreFreight growth on the rail network will be enabled through better use of existing and new capabilities of freight assets, and improved whole system thinking with freight at its heart.
Find out moreCarbon and air emissions will be minimised by cheaper and less disruptive electrification, zero-carbon diesel replacement, greater efficiency and removing emissions at source.
Find out moreTrain services will be highly reliable and the capacity of the network improved by real-time management, better train planning and simulation, and shorter headways together with new solutions at nodes.
Find out moreReliability and availability will be maximised by design, remote and automatic inspection, and targeted interventions, while whole-life cost is reduced.
Find out moreMaking it a success goes beyond technical solutions.
The technical success of the railway and our ability to make technologies deliver for our existing and future customers, depends on how we work together. Improving innovation pathways, ensuring decisions are data driven and developing a technically talented workforce.
Keeping a focus on why the RTS exists and what success looks like.
The RTS captures agreed areas of focus and provides a platform for collaboration. The desired outcomes set out what the strategy needs to deliver for industry.