Government plans for firms to run railway lines and trains

The first railway line to be owned and maintained by the same company that runs trains on it will be the East West railway

Network Rail has said it supports government moves to reunify track and train operations.

The first railway line since the 1990s to be owned and maintained by the same company that runs trains on it, will be the East West railway between Oxford and Cambridge.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling also said in a statement to Parliament that when new rail franchises are allocated, they will have “integrated operating teams between trains services and infrastructure”, starting with South Eastern and East Midlands.

He said: “These reforms will set the railway on a firmer footing for the future. We can and we will make sure our rail network plays its part in making this a country that works for everyone.”

The return to a railway industry with “greater alignment of track and train” was welcomed by chief executive of Network Rail Mark Carne, who said that the East West railway would be similar to the new Crossrail or HS2 railway lines.

In an email sent out to all Network Rail employees, Carne said: “There are many headlines today. Some of them are inaccurate and misleading.

“The strategy we laid out to devolve power to routes, to align incentives with customers, to raise new sources of funding and to be competitive, is entirely consistent with the direction outlined today. We have the right strategy, but we have to press on and deliver.”

However, critics have been quick to round on the plans as piecemeal privitisation of Network Rail. Trade union Unite warned about the dangers of private sector track maintenance. 

Unite regional officer Hugh Roberts said: “Politicians, such as Chris Grayling, have short memories and have conveniently forgotten the Hatfield rail crash in October 2000 when four people were killed and more than 70 injured which happened under the aegis of privately- owned Railtrack.

“Since Network Rail took over the infrastructure and maintenance of the rail system, safety has greatly improved – so there is a big question mark as to why Chris Grayling is taking this retrograde step by wishing to involve private train operating companies.

A survey of PE readers conducted earlier this year revealed that almost two thirds were against Network Rail’s privatisation, but that only a third supported wholesale renationalisation of the railways.

More details about the East West railway plans are expected to be given by Chris Grayling this evening at an event in London.