The Anonymous Widower

Is There A Pattern In The Performance Of Train Operating Companies?

I don’t care about the politics of rail nationalisation, as I just want my train to be on time and be safe, clean and comfortable.

I think this article from Rail Technology Magazine is showing a pattern of good performance.

If you read the article, it looks like two groups of train operating companies (TOCs) are doing better.

Locally controlled TOCs like London Overground, Merseyrail, ScotRail and TfL Rail, all seem to be doing well.

Two other TOCs that have a close relationship with their railway lines; C2C and Chiltern are also at the top of the pile.

I do wonder that as these two types of companies give passengers a quick and easy and often political way to complain, that they know if they muck-up they’ll be deep in e-mails, phone calls and letters, if they don’t perform.

I think this shows that we should increase areas of the country, where there are more arrangements of these types.

For instance, should short distance metro services in areas like Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Newcastle, be under more direct control from the local authorities.

And also, where the operator has a virtual monopoly of track use, as does First Great Western to Bristol and the South West and Abellio Greater Anglia does in East Anglia and North Essex, should there be a more direct relation between track and train companies.

My belief is that people on the ground, be they passengers or rail staff, see problems and opportunities that are best served by a strong degree of local control or lins to those, who are providing the infrastructure.

This is well illustrated by the performance of TfL Rail on the Shenfield Metro, since being under the control of TfL Rail. The article says this.

And despite its good performance, other TOCs were close seconds, with TfL Rail raising its PPM dramatically compared to the same period last year – up by 8.5% to 96.9%. TfL also reported significantly less cancellations and lateness, from 4.9% in period 5 last year to 1.5% this year.

Previously, this line and the service was managed by Abellio, who are headquartered in  Norwich.

In some ways it’s probably more about having a good management and communications structure for the train operating company, the track on which the trains run and the stations to where the trains go.

I also feel that a lot of the smaller developments in the UK rail system are locally-based projects like the reopening of branch lines and the creation of new stations, are projects that are better managed through a devolved rather than a centralised structure.

September 16, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Management, Merseyrail, Network Rail, Stations, TfL Rail, Trains