Rebuilding a base for Britain's railway: developing a timetable for the interests of all in a privatised context.

The history and structure of the privatised railway in the UK is outlined. The 'Capacity Utilisation Policy' published in 2002 by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is described. The objectives of the policy were to improve train running performance by reducing congestion, cater for freight andpassenger growth on the existing network with out affecting performance, and to control costs and improve performance by improving engineering access arrangements. The Midland Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS), the first publication within the framework of the Capacity Utilisation Policy, is outlined. The objectives of the RUS are discussed in terms of performance, capacity and cost. Ways of transforming a published strategy into a revised service pattern are considered and future changes in the structure of the privatised railway in the UK are discussed. For the covering entry of this conference please see ITRD E132365