The
private
train
operators’
lobby
group
Rail
Partners

has
published
a
five
point
‘Manifesto
for
Rail’ 
aimed
at
helping
the
railways
to
recover
from
the
long-term
effects
of
the
Covid
lockdowns
and
the
increasing
uncertainty
caused
by
the
collapse
of
franchising.

Its
Five
Point
Plan
makes
the
case
for
greater
commercial
freedom
and
an
end
to
railway
management
from
Whitehall.
This
freedom
would
include
more
open
access
operation
where
the
capacity
exists.

Rail
Partners
is
also
warning
that
‘it
is
widely
recognised
the
railway
is
not
performing
as
it
should
be
and
needs
urgent
reform
if
it
is
to
fulfil
its
potential
over
the
next
parliament’.

Apart
from
the
pleas
for
greater
competition
and
less
government
control,
Rail
Partners
is
also
calling
for
an
‘overhaul’
of
fares,
because
‘the
complexity
of
the
fares
system
puts
potential
customers
off
using
the
railway.
Attracting
and
retaining
customers
means
providing
them
with
an
easy-to-understand
process.’

The
remaining
points
cover
the
creation
of
a
new
railway
body
which
is
‘accountable
to
the
public’
and
making
the
transfer
of
freight
from
road
to
rail
a
‘priority’.

Rail
Partners
chief
executive
Andy
Bagnall
said:’Our
Manifesto
for
Rail
is
a
five
point
plan,
backed
by
train
companies,
to
get
the
railways
delivering
their
full
potential
for
Britain
again.
It
gives
whoever
forms
the
next
government
a
clear
set
of
priorities
to
deliver
reform
and
put
the
railways
back
on
track
to
growth.
The
public
is
not
that
interested
in
how
our
railways
are
structured
or
organised,
they
just
want
to
have
trains
that
run
on
time
and
fares
that
offer
them
the
best
value
for
their
journey. 

‘There
doesn’t
have
to
be
a
binary
choice
between
a
railway
monopoly
in
public
hands,
and
one
that
delivers
competition
and
innovation
by
harnessing
the
commercial
expertise
of
private
sector
operators.
We
need
the
“best
of
both
worlds”,
which
means
focusing
the
system
outwards
on
passengers
and
freight
customers
by
empowering
operators
to
meet
their
needs,
and
creating
a
single
accountable
body
so
the
public
knows
who
is
in
charge.’