Finding an effective rail competitive framework proves a long journey

With UK rail franchising policy under review, and existing competitions on hold, Daniel Wright looks at the models that have failed so far, and the European context

West Coast: Virgin’s challenge has left the UK’s franchising in limbo.

West Coast: Virgin’s challenge has left the UK’s franchising in limbo.

New entrants are increasing their presence on German local lines like those in Baden-Württemberg

New entrants are increasing their presence on German local lines like those in Baden-Württemberg

T he UK led the way in franchising of passenger train operations, but its experience has hardly become the ‘How To’ guide for the rest of Europe. The abandonment of the West Coast franchise is just the latest round of franchising that has fallen apart in the harsh light of reality.

The problems, blamed on a flawed assessment process, but also raising questions about staffing resources within the Department for Transport (DfT) and bidders’ ability to predict revenues over the...