British Railways and Brexit

Don’t blame Brussels on the state of UK rail operations. There is much that is great about British railways today but many economic weaknesses and thus operational weaknesses are entirely self-inflicted.

The EU model of separating track and operations has much to commend it,but is not the only appropriate model.

The UK took to ‘privatisation’, for political expedient.  If poor Maggie (Thatcher) had not been ditched it might not have happened.  Instead of open access and competition the UK has endured nearly 20 years of Stalinist style, ministry imposed (Department of Transport – DfT) ‘franchises’  Timetable and services often appropriate for a state railway years ago. No choice for customers.  Rolling stock procured inefficiently by the DfT.

So the lesson for other countries that want a state railway on the cheap – either control it yourself – outsourcing some activities can make sense. But for intercity services calculate access charges, encourage open access and have true open access.

Give consumers choice and maybe more importantly as governments need investment to win votes let equity and finance flow to long-term railway operating companies, who will invest in real assets.

Short term franchise or concession holders only aim has to be to extract whatever cash they can over the finite life of their contract.

Open access or nationalised – the choice is yours!