Should freight have its own board?

Giving adequate representation to non-core operators on the Western Route remains a logistical complexity, admits Dick Fearn, independent chairman of the Western Route supervisory board.

For freight operators and CrossCountry which regularly cross boundaries from one route to another, it is physically difficult to attend all board meetings across the country that generally take place at monthly or quarterly intervals. This has led to concern that they could be under-represented in key discussions, and perhaps sidelined by other operators in their decision-making processes. Fearn says all he can do is keep inviting these non-core operators to meetings, and to continue practicing an open-door policy.

He says: “We are desperately trying to get non-core players to come. I’m very pleased that we have some freight operators interested and signed up to come at least twice a year, which is better than nothing.

“CrossCountry is coming on an as-required basis which is fair enough, but it’s my very important role to make sure that the door is always open and that this is not a clique made up of NR, GWR and Crossrail. I am genuinely independent and will ensure that does not happen.”

Rail Freight Group executive director Maggie Simpson calls for stronger action, however, and is asking for the urgent establishment of a dedicated supervisory board for NR’s Freight and National Passenger Operators ‘virtual’ route, which had been expected by Spring.

She says: “It’s very early days, so it’s difficult to say how it’s shaping up for freight. But no-one has infinite resources so do you focus on an FNPO board, or one of particular importance to your business? It’s not easy to square that circle on a resource basis.

“I am a bit uneasy that overall governance at NR might not be working for freight, and it certainly isn’t ideal that all routes are getting boards except freight. It is therefore imperative to give FNPO its own board as soon as possible.”