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

  • January 24, 2012
    Underinvestment in infrastructure threatens economic growth
    The 2011 Urban Mobility Report from the Texas Transportation Institute highlights the dangers of continued underinvestment in transportation infrastructure but also offers some hope in terms of possible solutions
  • March 19, 2020
    Mauritius sets out to modernise public transport 
    The National Land Transport Authority (NLTA) in Mauritius is using LIT Transit's mobility platform to provide integrated mobility management and passenger information capabilities on public transport. 
  • January 23, 2012
    Open-source journey planning - the way forward?
    Peter Bell, managing director of journey planning provider Trapeze Group, ponders the business models which will underpin future travel information services from a UK perspective Traditionally, journey planning websites for public transport in the UK (for example, Transport Direct, the Traveline regions or National Rail Enquiries) have been provided by the transport operators keen to increase ridership and revenues, or by public bodies who hope to encourage a modal switch to public transport by making it e
  • January 23, 2012
    UK's Hindhead tunnel pushes the boundaries of traffic management
    The new Hindhead Tunnel is the first in the UK to use radar-based incident detection. Paul Arnold, project manager with the Highways Agency, talks about the project. The comparatively remote location of the A3 Hindhead Tunnel has resulted in it becoming one of the most sophisticated in the UK in terms of monitoring and control systems, according to Paul Arnold, project manager for the Highways Agency (HA), which manages strategic roads in England and Wales. It is the first tunnel in the UK to use radar for