SRA scrapped in 'customer focused' railways shake up

A streamlined "customer, not industry focused" shake up of the rail industry has been unveiled today – a reform package which the transport secretary has claimed will "deliver the improvements the public expect".

Under the reforms, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is no more – it will be swept away and its strategic functions and financial obligations moved to the Department for Transport. In its place, regulation will be streamlined into the Office of Rail Regulation which will take responsibility for independently regulating safety, performance and cost.

According to the White Paper, 'The Future of Rail', Network Rail will be given a stronger role as network operator, putting it in charge of industry planning, timetables and co-ordinating service recovery following problems on the track. In time the number of franchises will be reduced and aligned more closely with Network Rail's regional structure. The organisation is announcing changes to its governance structure today to help it take on the new role.

Ministers will take charge of the key strategic rail decisions, and will devolve power where appropriate, under the plans. Scotland, Wales and London will have more say over passenger services. In England, Passenger Transport Authorities will have a right to vary services and fares, and will be given more flexibility to switch funding between rail and other transport modes.

Alistair Darling said that package would ensure money that is spent where it is most needed – and not wasted through "poor planning and needless bureaucracy".

Mr Darling said: "Last year the railways carried over a billion passengers for the first time since the 1960's. So it's essential we put in place the right organisation to run the railways providing passengers with reliable and efficient services.

"The proposals I am announcing today streamline the structure of the organisation of the railway, they provide a single point of accountability for performance, allow closer working between track and train and provide for greater local and devolved decision making."

SRA chairman, Richard Bowker, said that since the authority's creation in 1999 it had "rehabilitated" Britain's railways – chiefly as a result of "the skills and dedication of SRA staff".

He added: "SRA staff should feel proud that their work has proved, beyond doubt, that this can be everyone's railway - passengers' and taxpayers' alike."

(gmcg)