Rail franchises axed as help for train firms grows [BBC News]





Date: 21/09/2020

The government has scrapped rail franchising and announced plans to extend support for train firms.

After passenger numbers fell during lockdown, taxpayer money was used to plug the shortfall in ticket revenues.

So far, the bill has run to more than £3.5bn and the Department for Transport has said ^significant^ support will still be needed.

Although passenger numbers have edged up since lockdown, they are still less than half pre-pandemic levels.


External links

Rail franchises axed as help for train firms grows
Commuters at Leeds station

BBC News

The rail franchising system has been scrapped and a £3.5bn survival scheme for train firms extended.

Related news items

Tags: x Franchising x COVID-19 x Grant Shapps

DateItem
22/09/2020ScotRail Emergency Measures Agreement extended [Railway Gazette]
21/09/2020Government axes rail franchising after 24 years [RAIL]
21/09/2020Rail franchising reaches the terminus as a new railway takes shape [GOV.UK]
19/09/2020'Book in advance' plea as CalMac unveils new timetable [Ross-shire Journal]
18/09/2020Rail nationalisations may be coming down the track [BBC News]
18/09/2020Government support for ScotRail staff and passengers as emergency funding extended [ScotRail]
17/09/2020Fatal train derailment 'like Hornby set thrown in air' [BBC News]
11/09/2020CrossCountry resumes normal seat reservations [Railway Gazette]
07/09/2020Delhi metro: India's largest subway reopens after Covid-19 shutdown [BBC News]
06/09/2020UK rail operators plan to restore 90% of train services [The Guardian]
06/09/2020Campaign launched for free public transport in Glasgow to help economy recover [The Scottish Sun]
05/09/2020LNER adds extra trains between Newcastle, Edinburgh and London [Chronicle Live]
03/09/2020Covid-19 impact: Amtrak to furlough 2,000 workers [Railway Technology]
02/09/2020UK rail passengers down 3m on last year despite return to office plea [the Guardian]
01/09/2020Network Rail report into resilience of UKs railway to be published shortly [Press and Journal]
28/08/2020Why facemasks should be worn on trains [ScotRail]
26/08/2020Rail services to be increased from September 7 [Largs and Millport Weekly News]
26/08/2020Passengers to be warned when trains are busy [BBC News]
21/08/2020Crossrail delayed again until 2022 and another 450m over budget [The Guardian]
20/08/2020Calls for major fares shake-up as rail prices rise despite pandemic [Scotsman]
18/08/2020Cut rail fares to counter Covid slump in train travel, watchdog urges [The Guardian]
17/08/2020Scotrail passenger raises complaint about 'un-masked' ticket barrier staff [Evening Times]
16/08/2020CalMac customers' 'thumbs-up' for virus response [Ross-shire Journal]
15/08/2020Doon Valley Railway Museum risks 20,000 loss after virus [Cumnock Chronicle]
13/08/2020Stonehaven: Rail crash investigation launched after three die in derailment [Scotsman]
11/08/2020ScotRail trials school train for Oban High School pupils [The Oban Times]
08/08/2020Rail body calls for sleeper trains to use Channel Tunnel due to rise in post-Covid eco-tourism [Daily Mail]
08/08/2020How part-time commuters can save money on peak-time rail travel [The Guardian]
01/08/2020Severn Valley Railway restarts passenger services [BBC News]
29/07/2020Scotland's rail services to be increased as Covid restrictions ease [BBC News]
29/07/2020At-seat food and drink service to launch on LNER trains [Mail Online]
23/07/2020Coronavirus: ScotRail offers free travel for unemployed and even more once they get a job [Clydebank Post]
20/07/2020New Carlisle to Settle services aim to 'kick-start' tourism [BBC News]
18/07/2020LNER 'not running coronavirus safe service' [Scotsman]
16/07/2020Coronavirus in Scotland: Physical distancing on Arran ferries 'unrealistic' for tourism [BBC News]
14/07/2020Harry Potter steam train to restart its summer trips [Scotsman]
14/07/2020Calls for return of Caledonian Sleeper to boost tourism in Aberdeen as Fort William trips resume | Press and Journal [Press and Journal]
13/07/2020North-east MP hopes for return of night train [Evening Express]
10/07/2020Holidays cancelled as tourists fail to secure ferry tickets [Scotsman]
09/07/2020CalMac cuts distancing to 1m from tomorrow and extends bookings [Scotsman]
08/07/2020Coronavirus: Transport giant First warns of 'uncertain' future [BBC News]
07/07/2020Blackpool trams to resume as UK light rail operators reflect government guidance [Ralway Gazette]
07/07/2020Edinburgh Trams and Glasgow Subway to receive £9 million in 'emergency support' [Scotsman]
07/07/2020Glasgow Subway to get share of £9m emergency cash [Evening Times]
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02/07/2020Boris Johnson urged to back Borders Railway extension bid as part of £5bn new deal [Southern Reporter]
01/07/2020Coronavirus: Grand Central trains announces 'measured' return [BBC News]
30/06/2020Restoring pre-Covid service 'could take two years' as TOCs face logistical hurdles [Ralway Gazette]
30/06/2020Construction work restarts on new north-east station after pause during lockdown [Evening Express]
30/06/2020Network Rail to restart Queen Street project after investing £64m in Scotland in lockdown [Network Rail]
28/06/2020Pentland Venture to remain tied up as ferry season is cancelled [John O Groat Journal]
27/06/2020What next for the UK's deserted public transport network? [The Guardian]
27/06/2020Dont eat or drink on train journeys [The Times]
25/06/2020Island ferry operators asked to provide 'isolation facilities' for positive Covid-19 tourists [Scotsman]
25/06/2020Britain's railways will be 'renationalised' using coronavirus measures [Mail Online]
25/06/2020Closing Glasgow's Subway 'not an option' says SPT leader [Evening Times]
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24/06/2020'Hogwarts Express' passengers set to wear face masks as journeys get back on track [Scotsman]
24/06/2020Daily tourist trains to serve England's 'most scenic' railway [Railway Gazette]
24/06/2020Subway threat as SPT predicts up to £20million revenue loss [Evening Times]
23/06/2020Staff at CalMac's Gourock nerve centre have been praised for rising to challenges brought on by coronavirus pandemic [Greenock Telegraph]
22/06/2020Coronavirus: Fears over future of Hull Trains [BBC News]
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15/06/2020SNCF launches unprecedented regional rail and tourism campaign [Railway Gazette International]
11/06/2020Coronavirus: Swanage Railway's future 'on a knife edge' [BBC News]
11/06/2020NorthLink reports 95% drop in passenger numbers over nine-week period due to coronavirus [John O Groat Journal]
10/06/2020Call for HS2 to run to Scotland and cut London rail journey time to three hours [Scotsman]
10/06/2020Coronavirus: Free face coverings could be offered on Scotlands trains [Press and Journal]
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05/06/2020Digital alerts to warn UK rail passengers of busy trains and stations [The Guardian]
04/06/2020Four new railway stations for Wales proposed to be built by 2024 [BBC News]
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08/05/2020Coronavirus: Rail services to be increased as travel restrictions ease [BBC News]
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29/04/2020Coronavirus: What's it like to work on the train in lockdown? [BBC News]
25/04/2020Edinburgh tram extension could be derailed by financial impact of COVID-19, warn Tories [Edinburgh News]
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15/04/2020Construction on HS2 can begin, government says [The Guardian]
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02/04/2020Use data to tailor coronavirus timetables to current needs, says Zipabout [Railway Gazette]
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29/03/2020Hull Trains suspends all services to 'protect business' amid coronavirus pandemic [Metro]
29/03/2020Kintore station work halted [Grampian Online]
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27/03/2020Scotlands Railway appeals for former signallers to help keep vital services moving [Network Rail]
26/03/2020CalMac introduces 'Essential Lifeline Timetable' amidst coronavirus pandemic [Ardrossan Herald]
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24/03/2020Coronavirus: Hundreds of ScotRail staff now self-isolating [Scotsman]
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24/03/2020Coronavirus: ScotRail asks passengers to bin dirty tissues [Evening Times]
24/03/2020Glasgow Subway to close underground network to help stop spread of coronavirus [Daily Record]
23/03/2020ScotRail reduced rail timetable comes into effect [ITV News]
23/03/2020Covid-19: government suspends rail franchise agreements [The Guardian]
22/03/2020Amended timetable from Sunday 22nd March [Caledonian Sleeper]
20/03/2020Coronavirus: Train services to be cut amid falling demand [BBC News]
20/03/2020Network Rail announces new measures to support retailers and tenants [Network Rail]
20/03/2020Caledonian Sleeper reduces services and amends refund policy due to COVID-19 outbreak [Caledonian Sleeper]
20/03/2020Rail timetable reductions being introduced from Monday [Transport Scotland]
19/03/2020Tube closures: The London Undergound stations and lines closed over coronavirus today in full [iNews]
19/03/2020Refunds on train tickets: can you get a refund on booked rail travel and season tickets amid coronavirus crisis? [Scotsman]
19/03/2020Coronavirus: CalMac to operate 'turn up and go' service during outbreak [Press and Journal]
18/03/2020Harry Potter line steam train to launch despite coronavirus [Scotsman]
18/03/2020Scotland faces dramatic cuts to rail, air, bus and ferry services as the coronavirus virus spreads, Transport Secretary warns [Press and Journal]
17/03/2020Coronavirus: ScotRail services could be cut to Sunday levels [Scotsman]
15/03/2020Rail firms seek bailout as coronavirus hits fares [BBC News]
23/02/2020Austria blocks trains to and from Italy after coronavirus outbreak forces postponement of football matches [ITV News]
29/01/2020Troubled rail firm Northern brought under government control [BBC News]
28/01/2020Beeching rail cuts: Fund to restore lines goes ahead amid criticism [BBC News]
02/01/2020Northern rail to be stripped of franchise, says Grant Shapps [The Guardian]
19/12/2019Who would want to run ScotRail anyway? Why its a tough sell Prof Iain Docherty [Scotsman]
14/10/2019Boris Johnson reveals plans to scrap UK rail franchising model [Railway Technology]
03/09/2019HS2 to be delayed by up to five years as cost spirals to £88bn [The Guardian]
30/08/2019Rail passengers could be spared injustice of one journey costing almost as much as a return trip [Daily Mail]
26/08/2019Northerns rail services totally unacceptable as Transport Secretary promises to act after driver shortage claims [Yorkshire Post]
21/08/2019HS2: Review to examine costs and benefits of rail project [BBC News]
14/08/2019FirstGroup replaces Virgin to run West Coast route [BBC News]
09/05/2019Scottish rail firm sues UK Government over ban [The Herald]
15/09/2018'Broken' rail franchise system to be reviewed [BBC News]
05/02/2017Rail franchising system 'not fit for purpose', MPs warn [BBC News]
20/05/2016East-West rail franchise being considered [Rail News]
22/11/2014CILT: The Stranraer to Ayr Line Support Association [Richard Carr, SAYLSA Development Manager]
05/10/2014First Great Western set to get five-year contract extension [BBC News]
02/10/2014Unions and Labour politicians urge ScotRail franchise delay [BBC News]
28/03/2014Northern to run British franchise for two years [IRJ]
26/03/2013Government announcement on franchising will help to restore rail industry confidence, say rail leaders [Network Rail Article]
25/03/2013Virgin Rail gets extension on West Coast Main Line [New Statesman]
22/02/2013Anglo-Scottish Sleepers to be split from Scotrail Franchise [Rail.co]
20/01/2011Rail companies set for more freedom [Herald]
17/06/2010The future of rail franchising [Department for Transport]