In the biggest “Portillo moment” since 1997, the Government has announced the most significant reforms to the UK’s railways for decades.
It will see the establishment of a new publicly-owned body, Great British Railways, bringing trains and track under one roof, setting prices and marking the end of the franchise system. Brightly coloured blazers will remain optional.
For commuters, the test will be a simple one — will this new arrangement lead to more reliable services, simpler ticketing and cheaper fares? For the Government, the challenge will be to ensure it allows for the remarkable growth in rail passenger numbers to continue.
The benefits of a single body with sharper lines of accountability are obvious. No more fighting over who is to blame for late trains or sardine-like conditions. Yet the Government will be aware it also carries risks.
The privatisation brought in by John Major’s government gave operators the ability to spot gaps in the market and to innovate. After decades of decline, rail usage in Britain more than doubled since 1994/95.
Ministers must also be alive to the risk of over-interference in the new public body, or Treasury parsimony causing cuts to operations.
The Department for Transport suggests that a three-day-a-week commuter from St Albans City to London could save more than £220 a year with the new flexible season ticket compared with daily tickets.
Carnet-style tickets will indeed be welcomed in this new age of hybrid working, though the Government could go further in offering a genuinely flexible system.
The British rail commuter is a resilient creature by necessity, buffeted by strikes, Byzantine fare structures and overcrowded carriages. But there are reasons to welcome these proposals.
As many workers return to the office, the hope of a smoother, more punctual train service is indeed something to look forward to.
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