1. We took evidence from the Department for Transport (the Department) and Network Rail on rail franchising, Crossrail and the Department's handling of other rail programmes in the UK.
2. The Department is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the rail industry in England and Wales. It contracts private sector companies to run train services through a system of franchising and, along with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), holds these companies to account for their performance. The Department currently oversees 14 franchise contracts. The Department funds Network Rail, a public-sector company, to maintain and enhance rail infrastructure.1 Network Rail plans to spend £47.9 billion over the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2024, targeting spending more towards maintenance and renewal of track in order to provide a more reliable service to passengers than major new programmes, but this work will necessitate some disruption.2
3. National rail timetables are changed twice a year through a process led by Network Rail. On 20 May 2018, Network Rail introduced timetable changes which affected 46% of train times across the rail network. There were around 42,000 different timetable changes, about three to four times higher than usual. The timetable changes resulted in unprecedented disruption for passengers which lasted many weeks across the south-east and north of England. On average, Govia Thameslink Railway and Northern failed to run 780 services each day, equivalent to one in ten trains when disruption was at its worst. Where trains did run, services were significantly delayed. The disruption resulted in passengers bearing significant financial and emotional costs, directly impacting on their families and work. More changes than those which took place in May 2018 are due in May 2019 and significant changes are due in December 2019.3 There was also disruption in 2018 caused by industrial action, including on Northern and South Western franchises.4
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1 Department for Transport, Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18, HC 1291, September 2018
3 Qq 85, 88; Office of Rail and Road, Independent inquiry into the timetable disruption in May 2018, September 2018 and December 2018; Passenger Focus press release, 'Rail timetable change 2018'
4 Committee of Public Accounts, Rail franchising in the UK, Rail franchising in the UK, Thirty-Fifth Report of Session 2017-2019, HC 689, 27 April 2018