Skip to main content

CPS calls for greater competition in UK rail competition

A report from the UK Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has called for greater on track competition on long distance rail routes. It says the UK’s transport authorities have been resistant to open access competition on passenger routes. Open access operators are train companies that run services over similar routes and are not subject to franchising agreements. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reported that where open access operates in the UK, such as the East Coast Mainline, passen
December 21, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A report from the UK Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has called for greater on track competition on long distance rail routes.

It says the UK’s transport authorities have been resistant to open access competition on passenger routes. Open access operators are train companies that run services over similar routes and are not subject to franchising agreements.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reported that where open access operates in the UK, such as the East Coast Mainline, passenger satisfaction is at its highest. However, the CPS believes the Department fort Transport is concerned that more open access will reduce the franchise premium.

The CPS says UK rail passengers are suffering from militant Trade Union action and poor performance by Network Rail.

It says, “A deeper underlying problem is the near absence of ‘open access’ on track competition, where two operators run services in competition over similar routes. Government should publically support competition on UK rail and show its commitment by easing the path for those seeking to deliver competition against franchise holders.”

Related Content

  • July 4, 2012
    Developing ‘next generation’ traffic control centre technology
    The Rijkswaterstaat and Highways Agency have joined forces to investigate what the market can do to realise an idealistic vision for traffic control centre technology. Jon Masters reports One particular seminar session of the Intertraffic show in Amsterdam in March was notably over subscribed. So heavy was the press to attend that your author, making his way over late from another appointment, could not get in and found himself craning over other heads locked outside to overhear what was being said. The
  • January 8, 2024
    How to overcome the technical and commercial challenges of MaaS
    The UK government has attempted to unleash the possibilities of MaaS with the publication of a code of practice. Alan Dron takes look at how it might help encourage implementation
  • December 15, 2014
    Managed lanes – the riddle wrapped up in an enigma
    Managed lanes have something of a patchy track record and can pose authorities problems as well as solutions. Many authorities in the US and beyond have converted, or are converting, parts of the highway network into ‘Managed Lanes’ and charging motorists a fee to avoid the delays on the adjoining free use lanes. Some authorities have converted underused High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes into priced-managed high occupancy/toll lanes (HOT lanes) whereby the price charged can vary depending on a number of fa
  • January 22, 2013
    Transport academics call for road user charging
    In an open letter to UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, thirty-two leading transport academics have said that in order to cut emissions and tackle congestion the government should introduce pay as you drive road charging. The academics argue that traffic will increase with further investment in the road network. They say smart demand management measures need to be accelerated, while cities are not equipped for further road traffic growth. The previous government considered pay as you go road chargin