Network Rail has plans to sell its £1 billion ($1.33 billion) commercial property portfolio.
The state-owned company, which runs the U.K. rail network, has a commercial property portfolio that includes 5,500 properties in England and Wales.
Network Rail said it had made the decision as its commercial estate business is a noncore property asset, and not necessary for the running of the railway. The firm plans to use the sale to fund its infrastructure projects.
Network Rail said the majority of properties would be sold on a leasehold basis.
In October the government announced up to £48 billion ($64 billion) will be spent on maintaining and operating Britain’s rail network over five years from 2019, in what the transport secretary called a “stretching yet achievable” total.
