Williams Review
Head of the Rail Review Keith Williams stresses his independence from Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling.
THE head of the Review into the future of the rail industry has stressed his independence, and says he will not necessarily follow the same line of thought as the Secretary of State for Transport.
Chris Grayling favours a new organisation to oversee the industry, with a format similar to the Japanese pattern of regional rail companies which closely align track and train operations.
However, Keith Williams said: “I am independent for this Review. Yes, I have met the Secretary of State - I am here at his instigation. I have met the Department for Transport. I have met the Treasury. I am meeting the opposition.
“I am more interested in talking to the broader public and the broader industry, because they are the ones who must accept and implement change.”
The DfT has launched a ‘call for written evidence’ as part of the Williams Review. It is inviting contributions from passenger representatives, businesses and investors, as well as from local and national governments.
Keith Williams is a former British Airways chief executive, current chairman of Halfords, and deputy chairman of both John Lewis Partnership and Royal Mail. He has been instructed by Grayling to seek “revolution not evolution”.
In an interview with RAIL’s sister quarterly journal, RailReview, Williams said: “What I see at first blush is what in the airline industry we call ‘regularity’.
“Passengers want to get there on time, and at the time they need. The technological capability of customers has moved on more quickly than the industry has been able to keep up with. The way customers interact with companies is based around omni-channel experience. They understand a lot more about what they are buying, and they want explanations.”
The Review team is inviting submissions on commercial models for the provision of rail services, structures that promote clear accountability, good value fares, and improved industrial relations.
“I am examining the broader social role of the railway and the economic contribution it makes,” said Williams.
“If you are a commuter into London, the train gets you to a place where hopefully you contribute significantly to the GDP of the country. It’s about what customers want, primarily, but also reflects what contribution those customers make to society.
“I recognise that the Review has to work in the best interests of the taxpayer. Ultimately it is the taxpayer that is subsidising the railway, and not all taxpayers use the railway.”
The Transport Secretary has asked Williams to come up with a new system that resolves the conflicts
between the management of track and trains. He expects it to end the current franchising system.
In an interview with RailReview, Grayling said: “Keith Williams is not there to come back with just another report. He is there to come up with a reform plan that can happen quickly. “It seems to me that on a day-to-day basis no one is actually in charge. Accountability on the railway is too diluted. The timetable issue has reinforced my view. “You must have some form of ‘guiding mind.’ That is a missing element at the moment. We do not really have a system operator.” The terms of reference for the Williams Review include a requirement to improve industrial relations. “That is partly why I accepted the role,” Williams said. “British Airways was privatised in 1984, ten years before the railway. But the last 25 years have been about transforming the way industrial relations work within BA. So I’ve got experience of that. I also have experience at John Lewis, which operates a totally different model of industrial relations. What I need to do is look at the way the industrial relations environment can be improved in this industry.”
Williams will not be paid for his role. He said he was undertaking the review for “interest, excitement and enjoyment”.
The Government’s call for written evidence closes on January 18. Williams said he expected to publish “position papers” in February or March on which comment will be invited. His final report will take the form of a Government White Paper and is due next autumn.