Britain’s railways need radical overhaul including scrapping franchising

Britain’s railways need radical overhaul including scrapping franchising, major fares reform and giving more control to city regions, says pressure group

  • Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has published the Future Of Rail report
  • Comes ahead of the 2.7 per cent average increase in Britain’s rail fares next week
  • Report asks for major fare reform suggests handing more control to city regions

A radical overhaul of Britain’s railways is needed to end ‘nightmare rail journeys’, according to a report.

Scrapping franchising, major fare reform and handing more control of services to city regions are among the recommendations made by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).

The pressure group also called for the creation of a publicly funded body to manage all aspects of rail planning.

The pressure group Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has published the Future Of Rail report ahead of the 2.7 per cent average increase in Britain’s rail fares. (Stock image)

It published the Future Of Rail report ahead of the 2.7 per cent average increase in Britain’s rail fares which comes into force next Thursday.

The Department for Transport is expected to publish a White Paper based on the review’s recommendations in the coming weeks.

CBT chief executive Darren Shirley said passengers have ‘suffered unreliable, expensive, overcrowded trains for too long’ as he urged the Government to ‘seize its chance to put an end to nightmare rail journeys’. 

He added that the railways must ‘change fundamentally’ to deliver potentially ‘huge’ economic, social and environmental benefits.

The CBT called for the fixed-term franchise system to be replaced by several models satisfying the different needs of passengers and communities. Paul Plummer, of the Rail Delivery Group, said the industry has long called for the ‘bold reform ‘ recommended by the CBT.

The report suggest major fare reform and calls for the creation of a publicly funded body to manage all aspects of rail planning. (Stock image)

The report suggest major fare reform and calls for the creation of a publicly funded body to manage all aspects of rail planning. (Stock image)

 

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