Up to 2000 jobs could go following Network Rail's revelation that it faces a £54 billion bill for providing services over the next 10 years.

Network Rail estimates that only that level of investment is essential to get train services back on track.

Unions have reacted with anger over the planned job cuts - which form part of a package of proposed efficiency savings.

Network Rail chief executive John Armitt said that the extra £54 billion requested would get 90 per cent of trains running on time by 2009/10.

"I would not expect to come back and ask for more. I believe with £54 billion we can do the job," he said.

"The network is in a very fragile state. It has been under-invested in for years and years and years - six years before privatisation and six years immediately after, massively under invested."