Guidance

Aims of rail franchising and what we expect from our delivery partners

Published 10 May 2016

Aims of the rail franchising programme

Through franchising, DfT’s Passenger Services aims to encourage a flourishing, competitive passenger rail market which secures high-performing, value for money services for passengers and taxpayers whilst driving cost effectiveness. We aim to stimulate innovation in order to advance our vision of a world-class railway that creates opportunity for people and businesses, including by promoting continuous improvements in passenger experience and boosting the efficiency and sustainability of the railway.

In particular, our competitions will be aimed at achieving:

• a railway in which passengers are understood and their needs placed at the centre of business planning and operations
• an excellent experience for passengers, with customer service, train and station facilities and journey information, particularly during disruption, that exceed their expectations
• seamless travel for all, through improvements in accessibility
• increased capacity and improved demand planning, alongside the development of existing markets and the cultivation of new ones
• better, simpler door-to-door journeys, including through greater interconnectivity between rail and other modes of transport
• an ever-safer environment for passengers and all those who work on the railway, by maintaining and improving health and safety standards
• the smooth implementation of major infrastructure and rolling stock projects and the full realisation of the benefits they offer
• an increase in the long term value of the railways through investment, cost efficiency and improved management
• an industry which is sustainable and a reduction in its environmental impact
• an industry which is joined up and works collaboratively with its members, including small and medium enterprises, and with local and national stakeholders to achieve benefits for all, including broad-ranging socio economic benefits for communities and for the country as a whole

What we expect from our delivery partners

Passenger Services will actively be seeking delivery partners who not only support, but embrace our aims for franchising and strive always to achieve them by playing a full and effective role in the passenger rail industry.

As well as fulfilling their contractual and other legal responsibilities, we will be looking for delivery partners to exemplify certain behaviours and values which we believe will contribute to the success of our rail franchising programme:

• an inclusive, passenger-centric and market-led approach
• an eagerness to develop long-term, open and honest relationships and to work collaboratively, not only with Rail Group but with all public and private industry stakeholders, in order to seek and implement innovative solutions and explore commercial opportunities
• the dynamism, flexibility and resilience to respond positively to passenger and market developments and to seize opportunities
• to be forward-looking and have an enthusiasm for innovation
• a willingness to invest in workforce development and to helping promote the rail industry as a career of choice
• a commitment to the sustained success and good reputation of rail franchising and of our railways as a whole