Rail Partners seeks ‘spectrum’ of new contracts for operators

Train operating companies shouldn’t be used as scapegoats over the rail industry’s current problems, claims Rail Partners Chief Executive Andy Bagnall. 

“We would argue some of the blame for the issues the railways are facing at the moment is increasingly put exclusively onto train companies and our argument is that we have to correctly diagnose the problems we are facing if we are going to require the right solutions,” he told the APPRG meeting. “We need to follow the evidence with what delivers for passengers as a starting point.” 

Bagnall added that Great British Railways should look at European open-access success stories and look to replicate that in the UK by encouraging new entrants to take on incumbent operators. 

“Competition in the Italian high-speed market between Trenitalia and Italo saw services between Rome and Milan go up by 60%. Similarly, Westbahn competing with OBB or Regiojet competing with CD saw fares come down by half,” he said. 

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