Private rail operators call for public-private partnership

Rail Partners, the lobby group representing privately-owned train operators, has called for the rail business to ‘put aside ideological battles of public versus private’ and concentrate on creating an ‘reinvigorated public-private partnership to get Britain’s railways back on the track to growth’. Franchising ended officially in 2020, and all operators still in the private sector have limited contracts, which involve the government taking the commercial risk by collecting revenue and paying the costs, plus management fees. Unions and some politicians say the transition should continue, with the aim of completely renationalising the passenger railway.