Majority of Londoners support TfL control over commuter rail services
Nearly 60 per cent of Londoners want decision making on the railways to be taken by the mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL), a new poll has found.
Research by Populus for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train firms and Network Rail, found that 59 per cent of Londoners want decision making to be devolved locally.
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The proposals put forward by the RDG support the introduction of more London Overground-style concession models, in which TfL would appoint an operator to provide a specified service for a specified sum, alongside incentives for good performance.
TfL would retain ticket revenue and would carry the bulk of the risk if revenue expectations are not realised.
This model is already in place on the Overground, in which Arriva Rail London operates the service on behalf of TfL.
London commuters also overwhelmingly support an overhaul of the rail fares system, with 71 per cent calling for savings for flexible workers and over 90 per cent wanting a best fare guarantee.
Sadiq Khan has repeatedly called for suburban rail services to be devolved to TfL, and earlier this year he said the transport body should replace Network Rail as the UK’s rail infrastructure manager to improve the reliability of services for London’s commuters.
The London mayor wants responsibility and funding for key rail assets such as tracks and stations to be transferred to TfL so it is able to plug the communication gap between the rail operators and Network Rail, the current provider of the infrastructure.
The RDG proposals will be submitted to the Williams rail review led by former British Airways chief executive Keith Williams.
Williams has been tasked with conducting a “root and branch” review of Britain’s railways following the chaos that ensued last May when a new industry timetable brought the system to a standstill.
Eddie Curzon, CBI London director, said: “The Rail Delivery Group’s plan is a necessary break from the status quo. It includes positive steps to drive innovation through private sector competition and improve accountability to passengers.
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“Given the widespread agreement on the flaws with the current model, namely on punctuality and fares, trust and accountability, and the fragmentation between track and train, it is vital that any new system passes all of these tests.
“The Williams Review’s conclusion must set out how the rail industry will work in the best interests of customers, delivering prosperity for the whole of the UK long into the future.”