By Eric King
A sweeping review to transform Britain’s railway system has been announced by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
The review — the most significant since privatization will consider ambitious recommendations for reform to ensure our vital rail system continues to benefit passengers and support a stronger, fairer economy.
Led by independent chair Keith Williams, the former British Airways chief executive and deputy chairman of John Lewis Partnership — will build on the government’s franchising strategy, bringing track and train closer together to reduce disruption and improve accountability, and considering regional partnerships and how we can use innovation to improve services and value for money for passengers.
Keith Williams will be supported by an external panel and will report next year. The British government says it will publish a white paper on the review’s recommendations, with the implementation of reforms planned to start from 2020.
The panel will consider all parts of the rail industry, from the current franchising system and industry structures, accountability, and value for money for passengers and taxpayers.
The panel membership will include Roger Marsh, who chairs the body representing the 11 local enterprise partnerships in the north of England and will bring his expert knowledge and experience of business and transport needs across the north of the country.
Privatization has led to a level of growth never seen under nationalization, and reversed the decline the railways saw under British Rail, where routes and stations were closing.
Passenger journeys have more than doubled from 735 million in 1994-5 to 1.73 billion in 2016-17. Private investment is at record levels, totaling £5.6 billion over the past 10 years- the rail network has one of the highest rates of satisfaction and safety in Europe. The industry has not kept up with this significant growth, because it struggled to deliver for passengers following the May timetable disruption.
The government says it has already taken steps to strengthen future train franchises and improve reliability. However, we want to ensure the rail system continues to deliver benefits in the face of these challenges.
The review aims to analyse all aspects of the industry, alongside the country’s changing travel and work patterns. It will make recommendations to improve the current franchising model in terms of reliability, delivering better services and value for money for passengers, commercial sustainability and innovation.
The review has been launched ahead of the interim report by Professor Stephen Glaister into the timetabling issues in May. It will it take into account the findings of his final report at the end of the year.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:
”Privatization has delivered huge benefits of passengers on Britain’s railways — doubling passenger journeys and bringing in billions of private investment.
But it is clear that the structure we inherited is no longer fit to meet today’s challenges and cope with increasing customer demand. Following the disruption this summer we took immediate action to improve services and ensure the industry compensated passengers.
We’ve been clear that the railway needs reform to prioritize its passengers, and we have set out plans for closer partnerships between operators of track and train, including on the LNER and South Eastern networks.
But as part of our vision for the future of mobility, we need to go further and more quickly, to get the best from the public and private sectors and deliver the railway we need for the 21st century. It is vital that this review leaves no stone unturned and makes bold recommendations for the future.
I am delighted that Keith Williams — who has significant experience leading businesses within the transport sector — has agreed to be the independent chair of this review. His expertise in driving customer service excellence will be incredibly valuable as we seek to reform the rail industry to become more passenger focused”.
The review has a wide scope and will focus on leveraging the commercial model to ensure improved services for passengers and taxpayers, and more effectively balance public and private sector involvement.
It will also focus on the roles and structures of all parts of the industry, examining how they can work together more effectively to reduce fragmentation, improve passenger services and increase accountability.
It will also focus on how the railway can support a fares system that delivers value for money for passengers and taxpayers; and improved industrial relations to maintain performance for passengers
While the review is taking place, the government will continue with its ambitious programe of investment — £48 billion over the next 5 years.