RDG response to the Transport Select Committee report on the Intercity East Coast franchise
Responding to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee report on the Intercity East Coast franchise, Paul Plummer, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, who represent the public and private partnership that forms the rail industry, said:
“This report has some important recommendations around how franchises are awarded and managed. We believe these should be looked at as part of an independent review of the whole sector that leads to root and branch reform of how rail services are delivered for the benefit of customers and taxpayers.”
Notes to editors
As speculation mounts that government is set to announce a rail review, the RDG has been setting out why it believes that a review needs to start by looking at how best to organise the railway to enable greater investment and innovation, and to better join up different parts of the industry so that they can focus on the needs of local communities and people who use the railway. Only then should the discussion focus on how to achieve the right balance between the public and private sectors in running the railway. Read this recent piece from our CEO, Paul Plummer: Independent rail review should consider all options.