Network Rail is to restructure, as part of long-term aspirations to devolve greater responsibilities to its eight operating routes from the first quarter of 2016.

Internally labelled ‘Devo-Max’, the plan involves the creation of a new Route Services Directorate (RSD), which will deliver services that Route Managing Directors collectively decide are best delivered on a national basis.

Initially this will include the Group Business Services, National Supply Chain and Network Rail Consulting operations, which have previously been part of the Corporate Services division. Other pan-route businesses are expected to move to the RSD over the next year.

  • For more on this, read RAIL 787, published on November 11.