Why does rail cost so much?

The railway is infamously said to cost two to three times as much today as under BR, while carrying around 50% more passengers. At a select committee hearing last week, four of the country’s most senior railwaymen gave their views on some of the factors which have driven up costs.

Labour costs

“The railway is very labour intensive and employs 70,000 people while changes in society and in people’s attitude to wages and safety have increased labour costs considerably....