Full or part privatisation of Network Rail are among options being considered by an official review which launched a public consultation this week.

The Shaw Report into the rail operator's shape and future financing is being led on behalf of Government by High Speed 1 chief executive Nicola Shaw.

A scoping document setting out a series of scenarios and questions was published last Thursday and a detailed report will be prepared before next spring's Budget.

This week’s document states that one potential funding and financing option is for full privatisation, involving the sale of assets or routes and the use of 'privately owned special purpose vehicles' to provide finance for specific projects.

Ms Shaw says there appears to be “genuine consensus” that long term planning for rail could be improved, that processes in a number of areas are “frustrating and time consuming” and there is concern that “funds required for investment in rail infrastructure won't be available in future”.

But Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Lilian Greenwood blasted the initial report's suggestion of total privatisation of Britain's railways. “Network Rail needs to improve but more fragmentation and more privatisation are the last things we need,” she said.

“The last time the Tories sold off our rail infrastructure it was a disaster that put passengers in danger. There can be no going back to the dark days of Railtrack.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We believe in devolution to route businesses and will continue on that journey in the coming months and years. In addition we welcome this broader, longer term review and look forward to working with Nicola Shaw to ensure we all continue to build a better railway for a better Britain.”

Photo: Network Rail