Network Rail announces sale of its commercial property business in England and Wales

Network Rail, the owner and infrastructure manager of most of the rail network in England, has today announced the sale of its commercial property business in England and Wales, describing it a "non-core" property asset which is "not essential" for the running of the railway.

Network said the majority of properties would be sold on a leasehold basis, because access to them will
be required for the future operation of the railway.

Meanwhile, the company was also inviting bidders to purchase its commercial estate portfolio as leaseholds, most of which are up for sale in England and Wales, in order to obtain a "significant injection" of cash for the taxpayer-owned railway infrastructure company, as it focused on investment on passenger benefits.