UK Government Rail Fares and Franchises Report - Poor Customer Focus and Short Termist

July 30, 2009

The official UK Government 8th report by the Transport committee on UK rail fares and franchises is out and Aucklandtrains.co.nz have summarised the findings quite neatly. The authors of the report:

• accuse the companies of making money but having no obligation to serve the public

• say the companies don’t give a toss about the needs of passengers

• are disturbed how the companies have blatantly put up fares six or seven times the rate of inflation

• note that a bit like some local property developers and finance companies here, the UK rail companies have set  up their company franchise so they protected from any financial fallout or legal threat

In short when it comes to private rail: “There is no point in involving the private sector if it simply takes the profits in the good times, leaving the taxpayer to pick up the tab in bad times

The official Government report pulls no punches with statements like:

A short-term approach and insensitive attitude towards passengers will damage train operators’ relationships with their customers in the long-term. The system encourages and allows train operators to take their passengers for granted.

Passengers have been living with for years. The franchises need re negotiating with real performance incentives that ensure passenger needs are put first and foremost. Only this way will the revenue return to the railways through increasd passenger usage.

Does anybody in the Government have the vision, intelligence, common sense and drive to get this sorted?

Posted in Uncategorized