Discover more about the people who run Network Rail, our commitment to safety and sustainability and how we connect Britain through our infrastructure.
Our work keeps Britain moving. From maintaining and upgrading thousands of miles of track to delivering major infrastructure projects, we ensure the railway is safe, reliable, and sustainable.
Whether you're planning a journey or need station information, we can help. Discover everything from accessibility and safety to how we manage disruptions and support passengers.
We’re building a better railway for a better Britain—and we need passionate people to help us do it. Whether you're just starting out, changing direction, or looking to grow your career, we offer a wide range of opportunities.
Asset Protection and Optimisation teams (ASPRO) provide expert railway assistance and support to those who are planning activities on or near the railway.
ASPRO provide you with rail safety assurance services such as; construction, engineering and infrastructure access.
Watch our video to find out what Asset Protection and Optimisation is.
Watch this video to see the size and scope of the work that our Asset Protection & Optimisation team support.
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Working by the railway? Why should I contact ASPRO?
If you are thinking about working on or near the railway, it is important to that you contact your local ASPRO team, to support you in delivering safety and in compliance with the relevant legislation and regulations.
The rail network is divided into a number of geographical routes and High Speed 1. If you are planning on doing any work near the railway please contact your local ASPRO team who are your gateway to supporting you in delivering your work safely.
Working near the railway can be a dangerous environment and we are in a position to help you navigate the risks. Network Rail is committed to safety so we want to help you deliver your works safely and securely.
To help you achieve your time frames please contact us as early as possible in your planning process, this will enable us to best support you in delivering successfully.
Want to learn more? Download the ASPRO Customer Guidebook below for everything you need to know about working with ASPRO.
The Network Rail Asset Protection & Optimisation team are continually focused on improving interactions with our customers, so to support this process we have introduced a new system for submitting new enquiries and tracking existing schemes, the Asset Protection Customer Experience (ACE).
If you prefer to use the manual process, please complete the questionnaire below and send to your local ASPRO team. Once we have received your questionnaire, we aim to provide an initial response within five working days.
This standard applies to third party works being undertaken where Network Rail is not the sole client, including the asset protection assurance of works being undertaken by a third party, to assets that will be taken over by Network Rail for operation and/or maintenance.
Residential apartments at Twickenham station
ASPRO do not deal with emergency works. For emergencies, contact:
Working by the railway can be both a risk to your works and our infrastructure. We are keen to work in collaboration with all our customers and lineside neighbours to safeguard you and the railway.
We’ve looked at 41 separate categories of risk that could cause problems, delays or extra cost to a project on the railway and analysed where Network Rail can take ownership of that risk, or made it clear who will cover it. An ‘industry risk fund’ has been established to enable Network Rail to take the risk and fund liabilities when projects encounter certain unforeseen industry related problems. The default risk allocation table is available from our downloads for third parties page and details each potential risk and who is responsible for it – Network Rail, the industry risk fund, the sponsoring customer or the enhancement contractor.
Our ASPRO teams advise on the potential impact of different kinds of work including construction, maintenance and work near level crossings. They can visit you on site and give advice at meetings.
Open for Business
We are making it easier for other organisations to invest in and build on the railway. As we become more open for business, we are reviewing and amending our standards, practices and approach to risk management, streamlining processes to make it easier to work with us.
Reforms to our ASPRO organisation so far include: new leadership roles, a national framework, service level commitments, customer satisfaction surveys and risk clarification.
Give us feedback – customer satisfaction surveys
As Network Rail owns and operates Britain’s railway, our responsibility to run and maintain it safely can mean other organisations feel we are difficult to work with when delivering railway projects. Recognising this, we are implementing a number of reforms to break down barriers and make it easier to work with us.
To ensure we’re making the right changes, we’ve started conducting customer satisfaction surveys with third parties we work with and have committed to regularly reporting on the results.
An organisation other than Network Rail intending to undertake works which will physically change and potentially benefit the operation, assets, design or other functionality of Network Rail’s infrastructure.
Third parties may include train, freight and station operators, local Passenger Transport Executives, the Department of Transport (DfT), DBFO, PFI, or commercial developers etc.
Examples of third party works may include:
Localised schemes (e.g. new siding connected to an existing line, changes to existing depots/stations, and where there is a consequential alteration to Network Rail’s managed infrastructure) funded and undertaken by a train operator.
Schemes (e.g. new stations/depots) funded and undertaken by a local Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) or county council, or private developer where the assets created will be managed and operated by Network Rail under its health and safety management System.
Nationally significant schemes (e.g. main line upgrade) funded and specified by the DfT, Transport Scotland or the Welsh Assembly under development or framework agreements with those parties, and/or their nominees.
An individual, member of the public or organisation other than Network Rail which promotes, funds, designs, constructs, owns and maintains the works that are within close proximity to the railway but do not physically change the operation of railway infrastructure and will interface with the railway infrastructure.
However, they may also require incidental changes to Network Rail infrastructure such as
See below contact details for each of the ASPRO route teams. To see the geographical areas each route covers please download the national contacts map that can be found in the notify us of third party/outside party works above.
Enquiries or plant information requests: Please contact your local head of ASPRO (see ASPRO national contacts map).
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): The EMC Regulations 2006 impose legal obligations on all installers to ensure that the associated risks are taken into account by everyone concerned. Please contact our EMC National specialist team.
Installing and operating wireless telegraphy equipment: Please contact our Commercial Property team.
Town and country planning, property sales, lettings and easement negotiations: Please contact our Commercial Property team.
For urgent issues, such as trees being blown on or toward the railway, please call the National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 and select option 1.
The Highways Interface team work closely with the Asset Protection & Optimisation team to provide specialist advice. They deal with technical and administrative issues related to the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) 1991 and related legislation.
Their duties cover the Exchange of Works information and the provision and maintenance of information for the National Street Gazetteer. They also represent Network Rail on the Joint Authorities Group (JAG UK) Highways Authorities and Utilities Committees (HAUCs) in England and Wales, and Roads Authorities and Utilities Committees (RAUCs) in Scotland.
All works notices under NRSWA are issued through Street Manager in England, ETON (Electronic Transfer of Notices) in Wales and the SRWR (Scottish Road Works Register) in Scotland.
Whilst we accept that graffiti can be unpleasant, the cost of removal can often be high. As a public body we have to adhere to the Government’s Managing Public Money principles and prioritise our expenditure on safety critical matters and those affecting the operation of the railway. For those cases that involve offensive graffiti, we will do all we can to remove this within 24 hours. Visit our community pages to find out the best way to report graffiti and vandalism.
