In response to the ORR’s rail industry finance statistics, Andy Bagnall, Rail Partners’ chief executive, said:
‘While it’s encouraging passengers are coming back to rail, the ORR stats released today underline the significant financial hole in industry finances, currently being funded by the taxpayer.
‘To reduce the subsidy, and protect services and jobs in the long term, the contractual model must now evolve to better enable operators to attract customers back to the network – in turn, generating up to £1.6bn in extra revenue for the Treasury in the next two years.
'A thriving railway supports economic and environmental benefits for Britain in a challenging fiscal landscape, so it is essential we get rail reform right.'
Rail Partners exists to make the railway better by harnessing the expertise and creativity of private sector operators for the benefit of those who use the railway, passengers and freight customers, and those who pay for it, including taxpayers.
Rail Partners provides advocacy and policy solutions for its private sector passenger owning Group and freight company members. Rail Partners additionally provides technical services to train operating companies in both the public and private sectors. For more information regarding our membership visit https://www.railpartners.co.uk/
