RDG lauds ‘positive first step’ - RIA urges business as usual

Rail Delivery Group Chief Executive Paul Plummer has labelled the Rail Review a “once in a generation opportunity to unlock the future railway Britain needs”.

He described the announcement as a “positive first step”, adding: “We will continue to campaign for big, bold reform which enables the partnership railway to deliver more for customers, employees, communities and the whole country.”

Grayling’s announcement was also welcomed by passenger watchdog Transport Focus, whose chief executive Anthony Smith said: “Passengers will welcome this wide-ranging review after the torrid summer of timetable disruption, ongoing patchy performance, strikes, and with fare rises looming next January. Passengers waiting on the platform will want to see a focus on day-to-day performance delivering trains that arrive on time.

“Transport Focus will ensure this review focuses on how to deliver better reliability, more space to sit or stand on trains, and better value for money for passengers.”

However, the Railway Industry Association expressed concern about the terms of reference. Chief Executive Darren Caplan welcomed the announcement, but warned: “We remain concerned that fundamental issues relating to the UK railway are not being looked at in this Review. We therefore urge the Government to continue to work with the industry to smooth out ‘boom and bust’ in rail investment, which puts jobs and investment at risk, threatens the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises and increases the cost of running the rail network by up to 30%.”

He added: “RIA looks forward to engaging constructively with the Review. We ask, however, that the Review does not throw the rail industry into stasis, with a loss of work momentum and certainty for the supply chain.

“It is essential that normal business continues during the review, with decisions and investments taking place as normal - we must not simply put things on hold while the review is conducted.”