UK railways brace for shake-up and cuts

[John Ashworth]

UK railways brace for shake-up and cuts as long-overdue review arrives

Biggest change since 90s privatisation looks to halt franchise failures, reform fares and, for the Treasury, slash costs...

Sweeping reforms to bring the railway’s track and trains together under a new Great British Railways will be set out this week – but reforms of fares will be limited, with the industry braced to have its budget slashed...

[John Ashworth]

UK railways to be simplified but still substantially privatised

The rail industry will be simplified but still substantially privatised as a rebranded Great British Railways, the government will pledge when it publishes long-awaited overhaul on Thursday.

A white paper will place control of rail infrastructure and services under the new arm’s-length public body, with franchises replaced by contracts that will incentivise private firms on punctuality and efficiency rather than raising revenue.

Great British Railways will run and plan the network, as well as providing online tickets, information and compensation for passengers nationwide.

It will streamline and simplify fares, including extending contactless and pay-as-you-go systems to more parts of the country...

[John Ashworth]

A flurry of news articles in the Guardian today:

How is the UK government planning to change the rail network?

There’s nothing ‘great’ about this new British Railways revamp

Rail reforms will surely reroute Trainline’s profit margins to head south

Concern about potential fare rises as government unveils rail changes

And from BBC:

Better rail services promised in huge shake-up