Government announces major review of UK's rail system

Today (September 20), a review to ‘transform’ Britain’s railways has been launched by Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling.

The significant review will consider recommendations for reform to ensure the UK’s rail system benefits passengers.

The review - led by independent chair Keith Williams, former British Airways chief executive and deputy chairman of John Lewis Partnership - will build on the government’s franchising strategy to bring ‘track and train closer together’ to reduce disruption and improve accountability.

Keith Williams will be supported by an external panel and will report in 2019. The government 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.

Grayling said: “Privatisation 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 prioritise 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.”

The panel membership will include Roger Marsh, who chairs the body representing the 11 local enterprise partnerships in the North.

The review will 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 will focus on the likes of leveraging the commercial model to aim for improved services for passengers and taxpayers, and more effectively balance public and private sector involvement the roles and structures of all parts of the industry.

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