Network Rail Control Periods

Network Rail Control Periods are the 5-year timespans into which Network Rail, the owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain, works for financial and other planning purposes. Each Control Period begins on 1 April and ends on 31 March to coincide with the financial year. These periods were inherited from Railtrack, so that the earlier ones are retrospective, and not necessarily of 5 years duration.

As Network Rail is responsible for developing and maintaining railway infrastructure, the Control Periods are used to decide priorities for investment. Infrastructure developments have taken place or are planned as follows:

Control Period 3 (CP3): 2004–2009
CP3 included the following work:
 * Additional express services from Edinburgh to Aberdeen
 * Improved interchange at Gourock

Control Period 4 (CP4): 2009–2014
CP4 includes the following work as part of the Enhancements Programme:
 * Upgrade to London King's Cross station
 * Airdrie-Bathgate Line

Control Period 5 (CP5): 2014-2019
CP5 includes:
 * Electrification of Transpennine line to Leeds
 * Electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line
 * Electrification of Leeds - York & Selby lines