The government announced plans for major changes to UK railways by bringing them under unified state control. This is the biggest shake up to rail services since privatisation in the mid 1990s.
The plan is to create a new state owned body, Great British Railways (GBR), expected to come in 2023. They will sell tickets in England, and be responsible for setting timetables and prices. By doing this, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps aims to offer more punctuality and cheaper prices. However, private operators will still have contracts to run most trains.
The GBR will also replace Network Rail in managing and operating the rail infrastructure.
The government says the new system is similar to Transport for London, with multiple operators under one brand. This will give them more accountability when things go wrong. They hope the new body will bring the whole train industry together.
Tickets
The move comes following years of criticism over the “fragmented” franchising system, which is now scrapped, and complaints about the chaotic introduction of new timetables in 2018. Customers have been listened to, and action taken in response to what they want from a train service. Passengers want a reliable and efficient service that is good value.
It presents a huge opportunity to simplify how people buy tickets, and to also benefit from a greater flexibility in fares in the future. Before the new body is established, a number of other initiatives will be formed, including more pay as you go, contactless and digital tickets on smartphones.
Some commuters will also be eligible for new flexible season tickets, offering them savings on certain routes. This is to accommodate people who do not travel every day. It reflects the changes to commuting patterns and the increase of homeworking after the pandemic. These tickets will cover any eight days of travel in a 28 day period.
Stable foundations for the future
Mr Shapps says the railways has suffered from “years of fragmentation, confusion and over-complication”. He hopes the new plans will provide the railways “solid and stable foundations for the future”, making it competitive, and ensuring passengers come first.
The introduction of the GBR, if properly implemented, should see an end to disagreements over who is to blame when trains are late, overcrowded or in bad condition. One single body will now be accountable for all issues.
The new system does come with its concerns though. The lack of private companies could lead to less freedom to try new things, causing a stall on developments and improvements. There is a fear that without the innovation, and with too much interference from politicians, things will stagnate.
Over the past twenty years there has been a revival in train journeys and increased passenger numbers. But supporting services during the pandemic is costly, and the government need to claw back spending, which could lead to cuts in services. A drop in passenger numbers during lockdowns means the shortfall from ticket revenue is plugged by taxpayers’ money.
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