Integrated transport improvements suffer as Britain’s rail franchise programme slowly restarts

Britain’s rail franchising programme is slowly getting back on track after the derailment of the three franchises put on hold when the inter-city West Coast competition collapsed last summer after loser Virgin’s legal challenge exposed major flaws in the bid assessment process by the Department for Transport. The hiatus has not only frustrated bidders but led to delays in integrated transport initiatives that would otherwise be delivered through franchise commitments.

With a highly...