Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Department's focus on minor improvements overlooks passengers' primary concerns about reliability and punctuality.
Recommendation
We asked the Department what we can expect to see within the next six months that will make a difference and improve the passenger experience. The Department provided examples such as the Great British Rail sales, roll out and trialling of more pay-as-you- go technology for customers in various parts of the country, and accessibility audits of stations. But we pointed out that it is the basic things like reliability and punctuality that matter much more to passengers than the projects the Department described.37 Rail Partners highlighted published data which shows that Network Rail, as infrastructure manager, is often responsible for delays and disruption to train services rather than the train operating companies. They said it is important to diagnose the causes of the challenges on the railway correctly if the right solutions are to be prescribed.38 We pushed the Department to tell us how it is focusing on performance and making sure that trains 31 C&AG’s Report, para 13 32 Qq 24, 26 33 Q 75 34 Qq 76–77 35 C&AG’s Report, para 10 36 Q 41–43 37 Qq 48–49 38 RTP0003 Rail reform: The rail transformation programme 13 run to time. It told us about working with Network Rail and the operators to really focus on those operators where performance has been particularly challenging. Network Rail told us about the problems caused by poor drainage and how it is increasing its investment in additional drainage and track teams and replacing assets earlier.39 Clarifying key aspects of reform
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and lists progress made prior to the 2024 General Election, including barcode ticketing and LNER initiatives, and says it is focused on delivering benefits for passengers and taxpayers ahead of legislation to establish GBR. It also mentions resolving the national pay dispute with ASLEF and mobilising shadow GBR.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4. PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that the Department has paid sufficient attention, in advance of the delayed creation of Great British Railways, to the changes it can make now to improve the situation for passengers and taxpayers. 4. PAC recommendation: The Department needs to make tangible, visible progress in implementing reforms which improve outcomes for passengers and taxpayers. Its Treasury Minute response should set out: • what passenger improvements and outcomes it has delivered, and • an update on the savings it has made from rail reform in this interim period and how it has made these savings. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 Prior to the 2024 General Election, the department was focused on delivering the reforms which could be progressed ahead of legislation, in line with the 2021 Plan for Rail. Progress included: • Barcode ticketing technology rolled out across the network. • London North Eastern Railways (LNER) simpler fares and single leg pricing trials to reduce the complexity of purchasing a ticket. • Contactless “pay as you go’” (PAYG) ticketing being expanded in the South East, with 6 stations added in the Summer and a further 47 ready to launch in the Autumn. • “Pay as you go” pilots announced in Greater Manchester and West Midlands, as well as trailblazer deeper devolution deals. • Minimum target for growing rail freight volumes on the network announced. • The second Great British rail sale was launched, providing significant ticket discounts to journeys for passengers. 4.3 The Plan for Rail originally forecasted £2.6 billion gross savings over the three-year Spending Review 2021 period (2022-23 to 2024-25) based on the previous government’s policy. As set out in the National Audit Office report, the department forecast gross savings across the Spending Review 2021 period to be around £2 billion. This accounted for estimated savings from workforce reform, fares, ticketing and retail reform and structural and commercial reform, some of which are non-cashable savings. 4.4 This government is now focused on delivering benefits for passengers and taxpayers ahead of legislation to establish GBR. Resolving the national pay dispute with Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) will reduce disruption due to industrial action linked to the dispute and enable operators to deliver more reliable services to passengers and recover lost revenue. 4.5 The mobilisation of shadow GBR will see an immediate focus on improving services for passengers, unlocking barriers to delivery and improving the financial sustainability of the railway. Through key organisations working in partnership as shadow GBR, we will harness the leadership of the whole system with a common goal of improving services for passengers and freight customers.