Michael Holden's Presidential Address to the Railway Study Association (p52, November) made some interesting observations. In particular, his view of moving away from long distance high speed franchises in favour of a more commercial and competitive model is one that those passengers who currently enjoy competition in their choice of operators will recognise and no doubt support. The role of the Department for Transport in tightly specifying such franchises is one of the major failures of the current system, and the position has evolved to such an extent that the DfT often sees itself as judge, jury and executioner in an attempt to eradicate real competition. For services which deliver a Public Service Obligation (that are socially desirable and deemed necessary but wouldn't otherwise be operated), then it is right that specification is detailed, but in the area of long distance high speed rail travel things have become far too prescriptive, stifling innovation and opportunities.
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