Neos Networks has today been selected by Network Rail to deliver Project Reach. This landmark initiative will see Neos Networks upgrade fibre connectivity along key Network Rail transport routes, transforming rail operations and improving customer connectivity along key routes.
But at its core, Project Reach is more than just an upgrade for the railways, it’s a critical step in advancing the nation’s digital capabilities. By deploying high capacity fibre across the country, Neos Networks is creating a digital backbone that will underpin future innovation. The demand for robust connectivity has never been greater, as businesses of all sizes increasingly rely on data-intensive applications, from new AI-driven analytics services to real-time cloud computing.
The new network will serve the dual purpose of enhancing railway operations while also enabling wider commercial use, supporting industries that depend on high-bandwidth, low latency connectivity.
A nationwide fibre backbone
The first phase of the rollout will see Neos Networks deploy 1,000km of ultrafast, state-of-the-art fibre optic cable along the lengths of the East Coast Main Line (the route from London King’s Cross to Newcastle); the Chiltern Main Line from Marylebone to Birmingham, and the West Coast Main Line from Birmingham to Manchester; and the Great Western Main Line (the route from London Paddington to Cardiff).
By extending the network across these strategic routes, Neos Networks is connecting key business hubs, data centres and core subsea landing stations that connect the UK to North America and wider Europe. As demand for connectivity surges – from AI-driven services, to edge computing and low latency business connectivity – the network will provide the resilience and capacity needed to support the UK’s digital economy.
For Neos Networks CEO Lee Myall, the project represents a milestone in national connectivity: “This is the largest core fibre network deployment across the UK in decades. It won’t just transform Network Rail’s services and the connectivity offered to customers, but also advance the UK’s digital ambitions by connecting key data centres that will underpin the future of AI, and vital submarine infrastructure that is bringing global data into the region.
“The deployment of this network will have far-reaching benefits across industries, from finance and healthcare to media and manufacturing. High-speed, low latency connectivity will unlock new opportunities, accelerating 5G rollout, cloud services, and AI-driven innovation. Project Reach demonstrates the combined power of public and private investment – seeing transport and telecoms infrastructure come together to drive economic and technological progress.”
