Is it even Mark Hopwood that will make the decision? Looking at the recent up rage over the timetable there is no way that GTR brought this in themselves. It must have been thrust upon them!
A lot of the issues on GTR have been caused by Network Rail.
From earlier - the factors
1. What is specified in the SLC▸
2. What works operationally
3. What will make best business sense ( highest possible number on income - expenditure )
4. What will provide services that even out passengers across the services as a whole
5. What is practical to plan within the planning resources available
6. What the existing passengers want
7. What will generate best passenger numbers for the future
Who has primary control? ...
No. 1 - the Government / Dft based
No. 2 - based in what Network Rail can and do provide and allow
No. 3 - the
TOC▸ But having left the TOC until No. 3, it is a partnership with the TOC very much able to make inputs / suggestions / requests to and of the
DfT» and Network Rail. The TOC is doing what it's told, given the track resources it's allowed, though with tuning ability and indeed the ability to say "that may not really work very well" to the prime movers and suppliers.