After an eighteen-month delay, May saw the long-awaited publication of the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, detailing the proposed approach to making the railways central to a more integrated and modern public transport system. The most significant change is the announcement of the plan to have a central body – the newly formed Great British Railways – which will not only own the infrastructure, but also receive the fare revenue, run and plan the network, and set most of the timetables and pricing.
The Williams-Shapps plan is a really point of change for the rail sector and, whilst it will take some time before we fully understand all of the implications this new model will bring, it is notable that it will build on Andrew Haines’ initiative of ‘putting passengers first’ introduced to Network Rail after his arrival in 2018. The new plan will continue to ensure that passengers needs are put at the centre of the new system.
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