Rail Partners' first publication, Working together for a better railway: A new public-private partnership, outlines the challenges and opportunities facing the UK railway system and proposes a new public-private partnership model to address these issues.
Critically, Rail Partners' research identifies that the railway faces a £20 billion revenue shortfall by 2025 due to the pandemic and declining passenger numbers. To address this shortfall, the industry must harness train companies to attract customers back and reduce taxpayer support.
The publication sets out the need for:
Great British Railways, to act as a guiding mind rather than a controlling one, with operational freedom from government and flexibility for operators to respond to customer needs.
Passenger Service Contracts, to incentivise operators to deliver for customers, with different contract models for various markets and a simplified procurement process.
A retail revolution, with modern ticketing systems, more Pay-As-You-Go options, and a competitive retail market to drive innovation.
An ambitious rail freight target, to treble freight volumes by 2050 is proposed, supported by a stable access regime and key infrastructure projects.
A long-term strategy to decarbonise the railway, including sustained electrification and investment in green technologies.
