delivers top speed of 90 mph in North Wales for first time Partnership funding £500k Welsh Assembly, circa £1m Railtrack Major investment in track, signalling, telecomms Journey time improvements Starts summer timetable 2001 – subject to HMRI approval North Wales Main Line - North Wales Main Line - linespeed increase linespeed increase

Second (ORR) control period Year £M 2001/ / / / / Railtrack investment in North Wales Railtrack investment in North Wales

The following slide is an example of Railtrack’s “modern facilities at stations” programme

Proposed property work for North Wales Shotton Flint Prestaty n Rhy l Abergele & Pensarn Colwy n Bay Llandudno Junction Extract of Route 12 V P.A. CCTV CIS Waiting rooms Shelters Toilets WCML work Other enhancement Virgin enhancement Telecomms renewals Maintenance work Existing facility Key:- VVVVVV

West Coast Main Line (WCML) WCML – busiest rail artery in the UK WCML – busiest rail artery in the UK £6.3 billion investment over the next five years £6.3 billion investment over the next five years Last upgraded 40 years ago Last upgraded 40 years ago Will run trains at up to 140mph Will run trains at up to 140mph Double the number of trains per hour from Euston to Midlands, North West, North Wales and Scotland Double the number of trains per hour from Euston to Midlands, North West, North Wales and Scotland

Europe's busiest mixed traffic railway London Euston Rugby Manchester Liverpool Glasgow Edinburgh Wolves Crewe Northampton Birmingham Preston Chester Holyhead 641 route miles 1660 track miles 13 major junctions 114 stations, inc. 5 major stations bridge spans 65 signal boxes 133 interlockings 2825 signals and 2625 points 15 TOCs/FOCs 15% of total revenue TENS route 2000 passenger and freight trains each day trains pathed across route daily 120 train sets

Progress update A very productive year for the whole programme Work completed Work completed Proof House Proof House Euston Euston Ditton Ditton Willesden Willesden TWA inquiry launch TWA inquiry launch  Work in progress  Line of route track and overhead line equipment  South Manchester  North Staffs  Line speed enhancement & TPWS

Targets and journey time New train introduction 2003 New train introduction 2003 Will drastically reduce journey times Will drastically reduce journey times to/from North Wales to/from North Wales First trains on test First trains on test 77 news trains built 77 news trains built New safety systems will be fitted New safety systems will be fitted 1hr 59mins From June mph railway 2hrs 26mins From January 2002 Indicative Journey Times Euston - Crewe