The UK’s only high-speed rail operator, London St. Pancras Highspeed, has achieved its best operational performance in a decade as reported in its Asset Management Annual Statement.
This places the infrastructure manager in a strong position ahead of forecasted growth as passenger demand for international rail travel is expected to triple by 2040, according to a study commissioned by the company earlier this year.
The report shows that average train delays have dropped 61 per cent on the previous year to just 4.2 seconds per train as a result of introducing strategic resilience plans. London St. Pancras Highspeed also introduced a Trespass Reduction Strategy, featuring increased camera coverage at known hotspots, which resulted in a 47 per cent reduction in trespass-related delays.
The Infrastructure Manager has also introduced a new Enterprise Asset Management System for mechanical and electrical assets. The new system will enable assets to be tracked and managed more effectively for maintenance using handheld mobile devices.
Lift, escalator, and travelator availability reached 97.53 per cent, just below the 98 per cent target. The assets are approaching the end of their operational life, and plans are in place for renewal in the upcoming control period.
Staff and passenger safety continues to be a key priority. London St. Pancras Highspeed is working closely with Network Rail High Speed and the British Transport Police to target the worsening trend in staff assaults seen across the UK rail network recently by delivering a System Workplace Violence Reduction Strategy. Measures include enforceable policies, enhanced incident reporting, and stronger legal responses to unacceptable behaviour expressed towards staff.
Joanne Parkes, Head of Asset Management at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said: “This year’s report reflects the strength of long-term planning and the dedication of our teams across the network. We’re proud to have delivered the best operational performance in a decade, with delays down 30 per cent on our previous best.
“To maintain our strong performance and prepare for an increase in services, passengers and operators on the railway, we are very focused on our renewal program, this year we successfully delivered over £17m in asset renewals and we will spend almost £300m over the next five years ensuring the asset delivers for our customers.”
With passenger demand for international rail travel set to triple by 2040, London St. Pancras Highspeed remains committed to building a stronger, more resilient network to meet long-term growth. The Infrastructure Manager is delivering excellent performance and is in a strong position to manage the challenges that additional trains and passengers will bring.
This commitment has enabled a 20 per cent reduction in train operator charges on the high-speed line from 1 April 2025, alongside a 30 per cent decrease in station renewal charges.
Image credit: istockphoto.com / NeilLang
