What big changes do you want to see to your railway?

The railway is on the cusp of major reform, with an independently chaired government review into how the rail industry operates currently underway. As part of that review, rail companies are calling for big changes to the system to create a more customer-focussed, joined-up and accountable railway.

Our proposals could fundamentally change how people use and view rail, but what big changes do you want to see to your railway?

As rail is a devolved matter, the Williams Review and our proposals for it primarily relate to England and Wales.

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Rail companies believe that in some cases local services should be brought closer to home. For example, in larger city regions which serve commuter markets, customers could benefit from local transport bodies or devolved authorities like metro-mayors being given more power to design and specify services.

Would you like your local area to have a stronger voice in how rail services are delivered?

Yes
No
I don't know Please choose an option

What is the most important kind of input you would want your local transport authority to have in your area, where the appropriate powers have been devolved?

Input into contracts for train companies who operate in your area
More power to set fares and implement daily and weekly price caps across commuter areas
More say over future investment and enhancements on the railway in your area
I don't know Please choose an option

Rail companies are calling for Easier Fares for All. These proposals look to update decades old regulation to enable a better value fares system which is much easier for passengers to use and which better fits how we work and travel today.

Which benefit from our fares reform proposals is most important to you?

A simplified buying process with irrelevant fares screened out

Pay as you go smart system that charges you the best combination of fares based on the time of day travelled

A ‘best fare guarantee’ which removes the need to ‘split ticket’

For intercity routes, fares which better spread demand throughout the day and significantly reduce overcrowding on the busiest services

Fares which give part-time and flexible workers more opportunities to save money

Where powers have been devolved, allowing regional and local bodies to decide the right mix of fares to suit the needs of local economies

Please choose an option

None of these

I don't know

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With our proposals, some long-distance inter-city routes would have several different rail companies competing for passengers’ business, offering a wider range of different services on the same route.

How much competition would you like to see on inter-city routes?

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On many commuter routes people have little choice about how to get to work each morning. They just want a reliable, frequent service. We are proposing that on some of these routes the current franchising system could be replaced with concessions, like London Overground, delivered under a single brand. This could allow for services to be better integrated with other forms of transport like buses and trams and make more use of scarce capacity on the network.

In commuter areas, would you like the franchising system to be replaced with concession contracts?

Yes
No
I don't know Please choose an option

Train operating companies that run passenger services across the country currently operate under a fixed franchise contract, tightly specified by government, about how that service should run. Our proposals would see ‘outcome based contracts’ introduced. This new approach would see the client specifying the contract setting the outcomes they want delivered, the operator would decide how to achieve those outcomes in a way that was flexible and responsive to what our customers are asking for.

Would you want the rail industry to operate on flexible ‘outcome-based contracts’?

Yes
No
I don't know Please choose an option

From the list below what would be your top priority outcome you would want to see in a train company's ‘outcome-based contract'?

Boosting the local or regional economy
Increasing passenger satisfaction
Improving local stations
Cutting carbon emissions
Making it easier to buy the right fare Invalid Input

Finally, rail companies are calling for an organising body, independent from government, to be made responsible for overseeing the rail industry – taking politics out of the day-to-day running of the railway, and making sure all parts of the system are working together to deliver against the same customer-centric goals, with fines and penalties where it falls short.

Do you agree that an organising body, independent from government, should be established to oversee the railway?

Yes
No
I don't know Please choose an option

Have further big changes you want to see to the railway? Then let us know. (500 character limit)

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Find out more about the big changes rail companies are calling for.

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What big changes do you want to see to your railway?

What big changes do you want?