1.2 In the British rail industry2, train operating and reliability of rail services. However, the Department's wider objective to improve the environmental performance of transport was not explicitly reflected in any of the objectives for individual franchises. It has nevertheless increasingly been taken into account in franchise awards. There were no explicit environmental The Department's wider transport and franchising objectives companies (TOCs) provide passenger services but the condition of the track and investment plans are the responsibility of Network Rail. It is Government policy that passenger rail services are publicly specified, procured and, where necessary, funded, but are privately delivered by TOCs under franchise agreements. Franchises confer the right to run passenger services for a specified period - usually seven to ten years - on a specified part of the network. Train companies bid for franchises on the basis of the Department's specification, service quality and the amount of subsidy they require or the premium they would be prepared to pay to run these services.
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2 Arrangements in Northern Ireland differ and do not involve TOCs and Network Rail.