Owning groups challenge franchising pause

摘要

Franchise owning groups have taken the opportunity of releasing financial results statements to challenge the government's decision to pause franchising pending the completion of the reviews commissioned following the cancellation of the Intercity West Coast competition. Speaking on October 18 (RB1425 p5), Go-Ahead Group Chief Executive David Brown warned that the government's revenue from franchises could be hit and rail upgrades delayed if the Laidlaw and Brown reviews slowed 'the busiest period for rail franchising since privatisation'. He added that DfT 'need to start cranking the handle as soon as possible'. Brown claimed 'the franchise process does work. Most of it is not broken'.