Rail companies call for reinvigorated public private partnership for Britain’s Railway

Today, train companies have called for a renewed public private partnership for Britain’s railway as part of the launch of ‘Rail Partners’, a new industry body to champion better railways that deliver for clients, passengers and freight customers.

Rail Partners published its prospectus: Working Together for a Better Railway, which sets out five priority areas for reform to create a thriving railway that will benefit passengers and freight customers as well as the clients who commission services and taxpayers.

It outlines proposals which will enhance passenger experience and reduce the need for taxpayer support.

In May 2021 the Government set out its plan for the future of Britain’s Railways. Rail Partners’ members share the ambitions for customers of the ‘Williams Shapps Plan for Rail’ and welcome reform, but the detail as to how those ambitions are met is critical, not just for the industry’s own sake but for a green, prosperous future for the country as a whole. 

To support those implementing the reforms, Rail Partners has been created to develop solutions which harness the innovation and expertise of the private sector and to help shape a railway that works for generations to come.

Through a renewed, collaborative partnership between the private and public sectors, Rail Partners believes there is an opportunity to co-create successful reform.

Andy Bagnall, Chief Executive of Rail Partners, said:

 “The industrial turbulence we are seeing on our railways at the moment only serves to highlight the need to secure a sustainable network for the future. Our members have previously restored our railways finances, driving up passenger numbers, introducing new trains and overseeing a renaissance of both the passenger and freight railway.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, the expertise, innovation, and appetite exist within the private sector to replicate and surpass this previous success.

“Rail Partners and its members share the government’s ambition for rail. To make it a reality, we need a renewed, improved and reinvigorated public private partnership, where operators are empowered to do what they do best, not only in the interests of the industry and its people, but to the benefit of the nation as a whole.”  

Rail Minister, Wendy Morton MP said:

“The launch of Rail Partners is a key moment in our transformation of the railways and our desire to use expertise and innovation to modernise the industry.

As we continue delivering on our Plan for Rail, the Rail Partners team will play a vital role working with government to forge a new partnership between public and private sectors, building on private sector knowledge while always putting the needs of passengers and freight customers first.”

Welcoming the launch Matthew Fell, Chief Policy Director, Confederation of British Industry said:

“The government’s vision for a better, greener, and more dynamic railway can only be achieved through effective partnership between the public and private sector.

Rail Partners will play a vital role in championing the benefits that the private sector has to offer, including investment, innovation, and experience of growing passenger numbers.

Rail Partners will provide a strong voice for private companies in a changing sector and a laser-like focus on delivering for passengers and freight customers”

The launch and publication follows what has been a turbulent few months for rail and the transport sector. With industrial action forecast for the rest of the summer, how our trains are managed and the prospects for easy, clean train travel for future generations will remain a crucial enabler of delivering wider political ambitions of economic recovery, levelling up and meeting net zero targets.