RAIL bosses are planning a series of measures to reduce delays for passengers on the East Coast Main Line between York and London.

Network Rail has announced almost £10 billion of improvements to the national rail infrastructure over the next three years.

Announcing the investment in its 2006 business plan, Network Rail said it was aiming to improve train performance, so that 87.6 per cent of trains ran on time by March 2007 - compared with 78.6 per cent when Network Rail was created in 2002.

On the East Coast route, proposals include creating an additional track and improving signalling between Holgate Junction and York Station.

Network Rail has identified problematic signalling and the line narrowing from four tracks to three at the southern approach to the station as the cause of much of the "performance problems".

The company also plans to install steel bridge protection beams at railway bridges which are vulnerable to being struck by lorries and other high vehicles.

It says these would prevent bridges being damaged - and trains being delayed - when lorry drivers try to drive tall trucks under them and become stuck.

Other plans on the East Coast line include:

Fitting lightning arresters at key junctions to reduce delays caused by lightning strikes

Renewing sections of overhead power lines to reduce the number of equipment failures.

However, travellers could face delays at certain times, Network Rail has warned that more access is needed to the route for both maintenance and renewal work, although it will seek to "manage closures to a more regular pattern in order to improve both train and asset performance".

It says it would like to "take possession" of sections of the line for up to 80 hours over weekends to accommodate major track renewal, although such closures could only happen with the agreement of train operators, such as GNER.

It says there is little scope to increase line speeds, as most such opportunities were taken when the route was modernised for electrification.

Network Rail adds that nationally, passenger numbers have increased by 42 per cent over the last ten years, and demand is expected to grow by another 30 per cent over the next decade.

Its chief executive, John Armitt, said: "Our 2006 business plan sets out Network Rail's ambitious agenda for growing the railway.

"Make no mistake, our plans are for a better performing and more efficient rail network, meeting the aspirations of our customers."

Updated: 09:42 Wednesday, April 05, 2006