News

• Rail Partners has used its annual George Bradshaw Address to urge the main parties to get the ‘best of both worlds’, from the public and private sectors, to ensure a growing railway 
• Rail Partners’ chief executive, Andy Bagnall told attendees that currently, government micromanagement of the railway is contributing to poorer outcomes – and that reform is needed to attract passengers back and balance the books 
• The George Bradshaw Address ‘election special’ took place at One Great George Street, with Huw Merriman MP, Minister of State for Rail and HS2, and Stephen Morgan MP, Shadow Minister of State for Rail, each setting out their party’s plans for the railway ahead of the general election  
• Ahead of the address Rail Partners launched its ‘Manifesto for Rail’ setting out five key steps the next government must take to allow the railway to succeed. 

Responding to the publication of the draft Rail Reform Bill, Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said:

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• Rail Partners has launched its ‘Manifesto for Rail’ setting out a five point plan for politicians to create a thriving railway that works for customers and taxpayers 
• Publication comes ahead of the 2024 George Bradshaw Address ‘election special’ – where both main parties will set out their party’s vision for the railway ahead of the general election 
• The Manifesto calls for a ‘best of both worlds’ approach to rail reform – bringing together private sector expertise and the need for a single public point of accountability – to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of rail.

• Thousands of food parcels have started being delivered to Ukrainian Railway employees and their families, paid for by donations from British rail companies. 
• Industry body Rail Partners fundraised over £106,000 in donations from Britain's rail companies, equivalent to over 7,000 food parcels for Ukrainian rail workers on the front line. 
• Rail Partners chief executive, Andy Bagnall, travelled to Kyiv along with Steve Montgomery, managing director of First Rail, and David Brown, managing director of Arriva Trains, as part of a global rail delegation to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges. 

Commenting on the announcement of a rail freight growth target of 75% by 2050, Rail Partners chief executive, Andy Bagnall said:

Commenting on ORR’s rail passenger usage statistics for July to September 2023, a spokesperson said:

Commenting on ORR industry finance data for 2022/23 Andy Bagnall said:

• Railway industry leaders assembled today in London for a summit on open access rail operations and how to encourage new open access services across Britain’s rail network.
• The session, hosted by Rail Partners, was attended by senior representatives from government, the regulator, infrastructure manager and operators.
• Open access operations can offer a range of benefits for passengers, including increased services to underserved communities, more choice and lower fares. They have also been shown to deliver environmental benefits through modal shift from air and road, to rail.

Commenting on the publication of RSSB’s Sustainable Rail Blueprint, Mark Gaynor, Rail Partners’ director of operator services, said:

Commenting on ORR’s passenger rail usage statistics, a Rail Partners' spokesperson, said: