Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail / Great British Railways

[whole diary]

[trainbuff]

It is also possible that cross country will be pared back. Not operating into Cornwall or North of Edinburgh for instance could be seen as attractive. Maybe not even to Paignton at all. Will mean changing at Plymouth but is possible. And of course a reduction in catering staff or even Train Managers if less services to run

[eightonedee]

It is also possible that cross country will be pared back. Not operating into Cornwall or North of Edinburgh for instance could be seen as attractive. Maybe not even to Paignton at all. Will mean changing at Plymouth but is possible. And of course a reduction in catering staff or even Train Managers if less services to run

This is a cause for concern. If the railways are to be regionalised, with infrastructure and trains in single units based on routes out of London, does this mean that Cross Country (and some other routes that cross "regional" boundaries, like North Downs or Portsmouth to Cardiff) will become "orphaned", and peripheral to the new business units operations (and therefore become again the cinderellas of the system)? It will be a retrograde step if this occurs.

[grahame]

Confirmation of publication tomorrow ... 20th May 2021.   Source of this email not shared for obvious reasons.

You may well have seen in the press that the long awaited Williams Review is due to be published tomorrow. [name deleted] attended a briefing about this at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) today and received an embargoed press release.

I don't know what hour the embargo lasts until, but can assure you that the Coffee Shop will be open for conversations right through the night ...

[grahame]

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/great-british-railways-body-announced-to-run-industry-but-what-about-scotland-3243330

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/great-british-railways-replaces-greater-anglia-norfolk-suffolk-7986892

Press Release ... from the Department for Transport, embargoed until 22:30 on 19th May 2021 but reads as if published just after midnight. Perhaps the press release tonight and the document it referenced in the morning?

* Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail to reform Britain’s railways and launch new era for passengers

* Biggest change in 25 years sees creation of new public body Great British Railways – a single, familiar brand with united, accountable leadership

* Simpler, modern fares delivered starting with new flexible season tickets on sale from 21 June, and a new Great British Railways website for all tickets and clearer compensation

* Reforms support delivery of financially sustainable railway as country recovers from Covid-19, with new contracts focused on punctuality and improved efficiency making it easier and cheaper to plan maintenance, renewal and upgrades

A quarter-century of fragmentation on the railways will end as they come under single, accountable national leadership, as the Government today (20 May 2021) unveils a new plan for rail which prioritises passengers and freight.

A new public body, Great British Railways, will integrate the railways, owning the infrastructure, collecting fare revenue, running and planning the network, and setting most fares and timetables. 

Great British Railways will simplify the current mass of confusing tickets with new flexible season tickets, and a significant roll-out of more convenient Pay As You Go, contactless and digital ticketing on smartphones. A new Great British Railways website will sell tickets and a single compensation system for operators in England will provide a simple system for passengers to access information and apply for refunds.

There will remain a substantial, and often greater role, for the private sector. Great British Railways will contract private partners to operate most trains to the timetables and fares it specifies, with a model similar to that used by Transport for London in its successful Overground and Docklands Light Railway services. 

The new Passenger Service Contracts will include strong incentives for operators to run high-quality services and increase passenger numbers. They will not be one-size-fits-all: as demand recovers, operators on some routes, particularly long-distance, will have more commercial freedom. Affordable walk-on fares and season ticket prices will be protected.

The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, published today, sets out the path towards a truly passenger-focused railway, underpinned by new contracts that prioritise punctual and reliable services, the rapid delivery of a ticketing revolution, with new flexible and convenient tickets, and long-term proposals to build a modern, greener and accessible network.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“I am a great believer in rail, but for too long passengers have not had the level of service they deserve.

 “By creating Great British Railways, and investing in the future of the network, this government will deliver a rail system the country can be proud of”. 

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, said:

“Our railways were born and built to serve this country, to forge stronger connections between our communities and provide people with an affordable, reliable and rapid service. Years of fragmentation, confusion and over-complication has seen that vision fade, and passengers failed. That complicated and broken system ends today.

“The pandemic has seen the Government take unprecedented steps to protect services and jobs. It’s now time to kickstart reforms that give the railways solid and stable foundations for the future, unleashing the competitive, innovative and expert abilities of the private sector, and ensuring passengers come first.

“Great British Railways marks a new era in the history of our railways. It will become a single familiar brand with a bold new vision for passengers – of punctual services, simpler tickets and a modern and green railway that meets the needs of the nation.”

Keith Williams, Chair of the Williams Review, said:

“Our Plan is built around the passenger, with new contracts which prioritise excellent performance and better services, better value fares, and creating clear leadership and real accountability when things go wrong.

“Our railway history - rich with Victorian pioneers and engineers, steam and coal, industry and ingenuity - demands a bright future. This plan is the path forward, reforming our railways to ensure they work for everyone in this country.”

Covid-19 has caused deep, structural challenges to the railway, with use still far below pre-pandemic levels. This strategy re-emphasises our commitment to growing, not shrinking, the rail network, with tens of billions of pounds invested in more electrification, new and reopened lines and a rail revolution. 

Great British Railways will drive significant efficiencies in the railways' inflated costs, reducing complexity and duplication, increasing flexibility, changing working practices and making it easier and cheaper to invest. Reform is the only way to protect services and jobs in the long term. 

In the short and medium term, we will work closely with the sector on measures to encourage passengers back to rail. To reflect changes in the traditional commute and working life, the Government has today announced that a new national flexi season ticket will be on sale this summer, with potential savings of hundreds of pounds a year for 2 and 3 day-a-week commuters. Tickets will be on sale on 21 June, ready for use on 28 June. 

The new Passenger Service Contracts will also help to build a more financially stable industry. By removing barriers to new market entrants, including by no longer basing competitions on complex and uncertain revenue forecasts, private operators will be challenged to provide a competitive and customer-focused offer, delivering greater value-for-money for the taxpayer. 

Local communities will work closely with GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) on designing services, with local leaders given greater control over local ticketing, timetables and stations. The new model will encourage innovative bidders, such as community rail partnerships who want to bid for the GBR contract to operate their local branch lines. 

The journey to this new passenger-focused model has begun today. New National Rail Contracts will be announced this year. These contracts will be in operation for two years and act as a bridge to reform.

[grahame]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57176858

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19314883.train-travel-shake-up-network-rail-jettisoned---new-gb-body-powers-scotland-limited/

https://news.sky.com/story/franchises-scrapped-and-changes-to-season-tickets-among-major-changes-to-british-rail-network-12311161

and I'm sure there will be lots more ....

[grahame]

Reaction from the Community Rail Network:

A national organisation that represents more than 1,000 local voluntary groups and 74 ‘community rail partnerships’ – working locally to engage communities with their railways – has warmly welcomed government plans to reinvigorate rail.
 
The Department for Transport’s publication today (20 May 2021) of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail signals the beginning of rail reform, including commitments to:
* Replace franchising with a new structure, new overarching public body and new contractual arrangements, aiming for greater reliability, coherence and accountability, and always putting passengers and communities at the forefront
* Put our railways at the heart of a clean, green transport system
* Ensure our railways are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to local community needs and views
* Bring in simpler and more flexible ticketing
* Continue to invest in and develop our railways, recognising their importance to local communities and creating a more sustainable transport future.
It is expected that the community rail movement will play a crucial role in supporting delivery of these plans and advising rail partners and government on local needs and opportunities for rail development.
 
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “We warmly welcome the commitments set out by the government for reforming and reinvigorating our railways – aiming to make these vital sustainable transport arteries even more productive and valuable to the communities they serve. We’ll be working hard to help communities engage with and feed into this process of change, ensuring local voices are heard and needs understood.
 
“Community rail is a thriving grassroots movement spanning Great Britain, working with the rail industry to deliver positive local impact. Our members are dedicated to engaging communities with their railways and stations, and enabling everyone to access and benefit from the sustainable mobility that rail offers. Through this work, it’s plain to see how important our railways are to community life – but they have an even greater role to play going forward, as we look to rebuild from the pandemic, and shift onto greener forms of transport. The community rail movement looks forward to working with local authorities, rail and transport partners, and the wider community sector, to ensure rail is firmly at the heart of a sustainable and inclusive transport future, which everyone can benefit from.”

[old original]

..to take over from Network Rail and control of all aspects of the railways include fares & timetabling

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57176858

[grahame]

..to take over from Network Rail and control of all aspects of the railways include fares & timetabling

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57176858

Full press release at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20846.msg306304#msg306304

[JayMac]

And lo, it came to pass.

I have consistently said on this forum that if we can't have a fully nationalised rail service then the next best option is the concession model.

I do hope that Great British Railway (GBR^▸ (Great British Railways)) will have some autonomy from Whitehall and won't be micromanaged by the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

What will be interesting to watch is the reaction of the current operators' parent companies. Will they all still be keen to be involved in running services? Will this actually see new entrants bidding for concessions?

Lots to look forward too. Not least some sort of national livery!


Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[grahame]

Press release from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) (Quoted above) is at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-railways-for-the-passenger and in our searchable mirror ((here))

Included in there ...

The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, published today, sets out the path towards a truly passenger-focused railway, underpinned by new contracts that prioritise punctual and reliable services, the rapid delivery of a ticketing revolution, with new flexible and convenient tickets and long-term proposals to build a modern, greener and accessible network.

but (as yet) no link I have found to that main publication.

[grahame]

I do hope that GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) will have some autonomy from Whitehall and won't be micromanaged by the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

Indeed - but there's also the massive question of their strategies and approaches

What will be interesting to watch is the reaction of the current operators' parent companies. Will they all still be keen to be involved in running services? Will this actually see new entrants bidding for concessions?

The Press Release says

Local communities will work closely with GBR on designing services, with local leaders given greater control over local ticketing, timetables and stations. The new model will encourage innovative bidders, such as community rail partnerships who want to bid for the GBR contract to operate their local branch lines.

I'm noting "such as" within the text I have bolded - also seeing a potential option for Open Access operators to run services, with the difference being that they might bid for and run GBR specified services as a whole rather than [just?] filling in the gaps left by the service specifiers.

[grahame]

From Railfuture Media (to me via email)

The end of rail franchising – will the passenger notice any improvement?

Rail campaigners have given a cautious welcome to the long awaited Williams review, which will confirm the end of rail franchising.

“It seems that the government wants to make rail work to improve the passenger experience and support economic growth.” said Chris Page, chair of the campaign group Railfuture, “But the devil of course will be in the detail, and we have to wait for the White Paper for that. We will be looking for flexibility and responsiveness, a can-do attitude and whether the new structure will create a joined-up railway which works.

“There are many important questions that remain unanswered.

When will passengers notice a difference?

How will we get people back on the trains? – We need action now, and rail managers should be focused on that, not on whether they have a job in the new structure.

When will we see an end to inflation-busting fare rises? They need to be linked to CPI not RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))

Will fares be repriced to deliver value for money and remove the anomalies which lead to split-ticketing whilst retaining the flexibility of choice, including walk-up travel?

Will weekend closures be avoided during the summer when many people will be taking staycations?

Until we get the answers to these questions,  we can’t tell whether the reality matches the rhetoric.”

[grahame]

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/network-rail-responds-to-williams-shapps-plan-for-rail

Network Rail responds to Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail

Region & Route: National
Commenting on the publication of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “Passengers deserve a reliable, affordable and sustainable railway, focussed on them. Today’s announcement will help us deliver that by simplifying the railway, paving the way to dismantle the legacy of complexity and fragmentation. Passengers and freight users will once more be put front and centre of a service designed and run for their needs.

“These changes will take time, but I am determined to get to work quickly with the industry and government. The pandemic has created significant challenges for the industry, and that means the changes we have to make are even more urgent. We must attract passengers back, deliver efficiencies and improve the service we provide. Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for our railway, a chapter that puts the passenger first.”

[TaplowGreen]

As a customer, how will I notice the difference?

[grahame]

As a customer, how will I notice the difference?

As yet, largely guesswork?  Depends on what the new setup does and how it does it.