Rail Partners' report, A Fork in the Tracks: Attracting customers back to the railway, outlines the challenges facing the railway post-pandemic and proposes solutions to avoid a potential spiral of decline.
After the pandemic, the railway faced financial challenges due to reduced passenger numbers and increased taxpayer support with passenger revenue plateauing at 80-85% of pre-pandemic levels, with taxpayer support increasing by £1.5-2 billion annually.
Independent analysis by Oxera shows that, if DfT-contracted operators had the same commercial freedom as open-access operators, they could generate an additional £1.6-2.1 billion in revenue over two years. This report recommends that introducing revenue growth incentives in National Rail Contracts could help operators attract more passengers, reduce taxpayer burden, and improve the customer experience.
