UK rail investment driving business growth

Date: 9/8/2013

The sustained investment in the UK's railway network helped to drive business growth in the UK, according to Network Rail.

The last year has seen the completion of a number of enhancement schemes carried out by the organisation, including the redevelopment of King's Cross, Reading and Birmingham New Street stations, the upgrade to Thameslink and the Crossrail project.

As well as boosting transport infrastructure in the UK, a third of the money went to small and medium-sized businesses, to help support economic growth and create jobs across a range of industries.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said that investment in infrastructure has a "direct effect" on the wider UK economy.

He added: "We have set out £100bn of investment in infrastructure over the next parliament, including supporting the largest programme of investment in rail since the Victorian era. I'm very glad to see that Network Rail are doing their bit to drive sustainable and balanced economic growth across the UK."

A shining example of the investment in UK rail links is the Northern Hub project, which will help improve business links between cities in the north, including Leeds, Manchester and Bradford.

Posted by Mary Treen

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