In response to ORR’s passenger usage statistics, Rail Partners' Chief Executive, Andy Bagnall, said:
'The latest ORR passenger usage statistics underline the financial challenges facing the rail industry from the pandemic and the current industrial action.
'It’s encouraging to see passenger numbers are improving, but to secure the long-term sustainability of the railway and in turn the jobs and economic benefits it supports, the contractual model must now evolve to accelerate recovery.
‘Operators must be given the commercial freedoms to attract customers back and make rail an attractive, sustainable and reliable choice for people up and down the country.’
Rail Partners exists to make the railway better by harnessing the expertise and creativity of private sector operators for the benefit of those who use the railway, passengers and freight customers, and those who pay for it, including taxpayers.
Rail Partners provides advocacy and policy solutions for its private sector passenger owning Group and freight company members. Rail Partners additionally provides technical services to train operating companies in both the public and private sectors.
