Transport Committee considers franchising

摘要

On May 5 the Commons Transport Committee announced that it would be holding an inquiry into franchising, inviting written submissions by June 3. Following inquiries into signalling and train control technology (RBI505 p2) and improving the passenger experience, this is the third in the committee's 'future of rail' series, which will also consider safety, governance and financing. The franchising inquiry will aim to draw together and follow up on 'a number of key issues raised in recent reviews', including the Brown and Laidlaw reviews commissioned by DfT following the collapse of the Intercity West Coast competition in 2012. It will also be informed by the policy document on increasing competition published in March by the Competition & Markets Authority (RBI506 p4).