麻豆社

Network Rail is selling around 4,000 railway arches across England and Wales, which are home to thousands of small businesses.

It says the money raised will pay for improvements to the rail network, but many business owners are worried increased rents could force them to close.

Prakash Patel from Popup Bikes and Jay Cahill, owner of Fighting Fit Martial Arts Centre in Manchester told 麻豆社 Radio 5 live that Network Rail has left them 鈥渋n limbo鈥�. They鈥檙e both worried about increased rents and the impact the sell-off could have on the local community.

Network Rail said: 鈥淎s a taxpayer-funded, public company, we use funds from property rents and sales to invest in improving and growing the UK鈥檚 railway infrastructure, reducing the need for the taxpayer and the fare-payer to fund our railways. Upon completion of the sale, all current leases will transfer to the new buyer and all arrangements and protections will remain unchanged.鈥�

Film by 麻豆社 Radio 5 live Drive.