ATOC criticises government progress in rail franchising reform

Association of Train Operating Companies chairman Tom Smith has criticised the government for slow progress over the past two years in reforming rail franchising policy. In a lecture at the Institution of Civil Engineers. Smith said the industry had welcomed the Government’s commitment to a new less prescriptive franchising policy but considered that it had “barely begun to be turned into reality”.

He urged the Government to provide tangible evidence that it will deliver on...