Knowles, RD 2004, 'Impacts of Privatising Britain’s Rail Passenger Services - Franchising, Refranchising and Ten Year Transport Plan Targets' , Environment and Planning A, 36 (11) , pp. 2065-2087.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Britain's passenger rail services were privatised in 1996/97 to reduce public subsidies and produce customer benefits through the private sector competing for medium or long-term franchises. Private sector franchisees were committed to investment in rolling stock, services, and infrastructure and were expected to deliver more market-oriented and cost-effective services whilst subsidies decreased on an annual sliding scale. The author analyses why some franchisees have been unable to achieve the annual financial improvement required to match tapering subsidies. The greatest challenges are identified in Regional franchises outside southeast England, where contracts were let towards the end of rail privatisation when competition was fiercest. Some contracts have been terminated or renegotiated. Reasons are investigated for record levels of passenger traffic across the rail network, privatisation's major, and unexpected, achievement. Traffic growth slowed, and was confined to the London and South East sector, after the Hatfield accident in October 2000. Reasons are identified for delays in refranchising and the sudden policy change from long-term investment-led franchises to short or medium-term contracts. The comparative financial and customer benefits of refranchising are analysed. Finally, the achievability of the government's Ten Year Transport Plan target of 50% growth in passenger traffic is questioned.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Themes: | Subjects / Themes > J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain Subjects / Themes > T Technology > TF Railroad engineering and operation Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications > HE1001 Railroads. Rapid transit systems Built and Human Environment Subjects outside of the University Themes |
| Schools: | Schools > School of the Built Environment Schools > School of Environment and Life Sciences > Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Environment and Planning A |
| Publisher: | Pion Ltd |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| ISSN: | 0308-518X |
| Depositing User: | H Kenna |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Oct 2007 11:52 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Aug 2021 22:02 |
| URI: | http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/653 |
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