Britain’s collapsing rail system should be radically overhauled to “put an end to nightmare journeys” campaigners have demanded.
Scrapping franchises, reforming fares and giving control to city regions could all help get the network back on track, says the Campaign for Better Transport.
With fares rising next week by an average 2.7 per cent, chief executive Darren Shirley said passengers have “suffered unreliable, expensive, overcrowded trains for too long”.
And he warned that the railways were failing to deliver potentially huge economic, social and environmental benefits.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham welcomed the report, saying the system needed reform as he could not integrate train fares with trams and buses, as happens in London.
He said: “That’s what cities like Manchester need if we want to go to the next level – a London-style transport system.”
He also said the Government had to act now and deal with “failing franchises” Northern and Transpennine.
Mr Burnham added: “I’m certain of one thing – we cannot have another year like the one we’ve just had. It’s been utterly chaotic.”
Most services are run under fixed-term franchises which specify service and performance levels as well as required upgrades.
Yet punctuality nationally sank to a 13-year low in 2018, with trains clocking delays equivalent to 32 years.
The Department for Transport said: “The Government will shortly bring forward the first root-and-branch review of the rail industry in a generation.
“Reforms will put passengers first, end the complicated franchising model and simplify fares to create a fairer, more effective system.”
