Informed Sources
Cutting edge analysis of the issues which really matter
■ No growth in last nine months
■ Defining‘sustainable subsidy’challenge for next Government
■ Further cost reduction difficult
When the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published its‘Passenger rail usage report’for July to September 2023, Figure 1generated some excited chatter on social media. Here were the East Coast main line open access operators confirming the supremacy of the private sector over state-owned LNER when it came to attracting new business.
However, when Rail Partners subsequently published its‘Manifesto for Rail: Afive-point plan to create a thriving railway’, the passage in the box stood out. Had the recovery really plateaued? Had Ford taken his eye off the ball with all the other excitements going on?
PLATEAUED
‘At atime when recovery of passenger numbers has plateaued and taxpayer support remains high, commercial decisions need to be placed back into the hands of operators, even within existing contracts, so that the private sector can do what it does best –innovate to attract customers and reduce costs. In doing so, it will reduce subsidy, freeing up public money for other Government priorities.’
