Research and Reports

Network Fail: Getting UK rail back on track

This paper from the Adam Smith Institute argues for wide-ranging changes to the railway structure, including that High Speed 2 should be cancelled and Network Rail “should be progressively sold down.” It calls for the initial sale of 49.9% of the infrastructure owner. In addition, the paper contends “some smaller lines could be progressively divested by Network Rail as part of a local transportation policy”. HS2, it argues, “should be scrapped on grounds of excessive cost” and instead a “far less grandiose” approach should deal with overcrowding on the southern West Coast Main Line. On train operating, the paper says franchising should be kept - but that the Department for Transport and Office of Rail and Road “should crack down hard on under-performing rail franchise holders”. The paper also calls for continued investment in northern England.