scope:

Foreword

Operational property assets comprise an extremely diverse range of building types, sizes and age profiles. Some of these buildings are redundant and others are subject to heritage constraints. They encompass a wide variety of building fabric, building engineering services, plant and equipment, and external works assets.

Railtrack's responsibility as owner of these assets is complicated by the fact that all of the stations (other than the Major Stations) and all of the light maintenance depots (LMDs) are leased to third parties, i.e. the Train Operating Companies (TOCs), or for some light maintenance depots, the rolling stock maintainer. Under these complex agreements, Railtrack is responsible for approximately 70% by value of all works and the lessee, 30% (other than at a few locations which are subject to full repairing and insuring leases). The lessees' responsibilities largely cover the routine maintenance and repair, cleaning and operation of the fabric, plant and facilities. Railtrack has a 'landlord' role in overseeing these lessee obligations as well as a direct role in managing its own obligations.

The lineside buildings portfolio (like the 14 Major Stations) is under the direct management of Railtrack and, in addition to providing environmental protection to key operational equipment, it is home to some 6000 Railtrack employees, primarily signallers.

The Buildings, Stations and Depots (BS&D) engineering policy sets out a proactive and pragmatic asset management regime for maintaining ('steady state'), improving ('renewal improvements'), enhancing (new and improved) assets and rationalising/right sizing redundant or oversized assets. It addresses the essential requirement for a nationally networked single operational property database, a planned maintenance (works) system (PMS) giving a prioritised 10-year financial liability profile for our assets (with Railtrack and TOC responsibilities identified) and a new inspections and testing regime that will provide the 'fuel' for the PMS.

This headline policy is supported by more detailed policy documents which provide more detail and information. These subsidiary documents are to be read in conjunction with this policy in order to comply with its requirements.