The Centre for Policy Studies welcomes the Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) announcement today that it has approved applications from Virgin Trains East Coast and FirstGroup for new train services travelling on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between London and Edinburgh.
Improved rail competition was first outlined as a solution to rising rail passenger traffic in Rail’s Second Chance, published by the Centre for Policy Studies in 2013.
In the report Tony Lodge urged the government to improve rail competition, revealing that in areas where rail competition has emerged – primarily on the East Coast Main Line and in rail freight – it has led to new private investment, innovation, new routes, lower taxpayer subsidies, lower transparent fares, more journeys and happier passengers.
Date Added: Thursday 12th May 2016
