The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators has warned that Great British Railways will need to respect local devolution while also maintaining a consistent approach throughout the country.

In a new report, CIRO has set out its objectives for the organisation.

CIRO says it recognises the ‘significant opportunities’ presented by bringing track and train closer together under a single organisation, but also says that reform needs to be accompanied by the right leadership, culture and methods of making decisions, and that people must be equipped to do so by having confidence and capability.

It also says customers should come first, rather than ‘isolated’ performance measures.

East West Rail railway operations director Ben Rule chaired the CIRO Policy Panel which produced the report.

He said: ‘Great British Railways represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how our railway operates. The direction of travel is positive, but successful reform will depend on much more than organisational structures. It will rely on the people who operate the railway every day being equipped, empowered and trusted to make the right decisions for customers.

‘This paper brings together the experience of some of the most senior operational leaders in our profession. It is intended as a constructive contribution to the ongoing development of Great British Railways, offering practical recommendations that place operational excellence, professional capability and whole-system thinking at the heart of reform.’

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