Commenting on ORR’s latest passenger rail usage statistics, Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said:
'The latest ORR data shows a welcome increase in passenger numbers, but rail usage and revenue still fall short of pre-pandemic levels.
‘Since the pandemic swept away the privatised rail system, train companies have been subject to a level of government micromanagement that is holding back recovery and nationalisation will lock in these constraints.
‘Attracting more people to travel by train is the single biggest driver of regrowing revenue, which is key to reducing taxpayer subsidy. The fastest way to do this is by harnessing the commercial expertise of train companies as we are increasingly seeing across Europe.’
Notes to editors
- A new report by the European Commission shows where there is competition on the railways in Europe, passengers benefit with lower fares, more services, and an improved customer experience. Read more here: Study on passenger and freight rail transport services’ prices to final customers - Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
- The European Commission report supports many of the findings in Rail Partners’ Track to Growth report. The report shows that where competition among train companies is harnessed effectively across Britain and Europe, it leads to more customers, more services, newer trains, cheaper fares and reduced subsidy.
- Rail Partners’ latest factsheet on the railways can also be found here: Will nationalisation fix our railways?
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