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REGIONAL railway companies running tracks and trains could be set up
under a policy option being considered by the Tory shadow transport
team.
It is one of three options being put
through feasibility studies by shadow transport secretary Chris
Grayling's team. They hope to announce the results before the
Government makes its summer statements on the future of rail.
The Tories admitted last year that they had been wrong to separate
infrastructure from train operations, but have so far not revealed how
they plan to bring them back together if elected.
However, shadow rail minister Stephen Hammond has said the possibility
of vertically integrated regional railway companies is on a shortlist
of policy options getting detailed examination.
Other options being looked at are regional "joint ventures" between
Network Rail and train operating companies, and extending the use of
integrated control centres, which Mr Hammond said would bring Network
Rail and operators together without changing the structure of the
industry.
He listed the options at a Railway Forum conference, and said the
Tories believed change was needed because few people in the industry
thought the status quo could meet the challenges of a growing railway.
"It has become clear to us in private meetings that everyone says
Network Rail is better but no one says the system can deliver the
capacity increases needed for the next 15 years," he said.
Speaking to Railnews later, Mr Hammond said the regional companies
option would "not necessarily" involve the break up of Network Rail
because there could be a central board within the regional structure.
"We recognise the institutional upheaval there has been on the railway
in the last 15 years so if we are going to propose great upheaval we
have to be pretty clear there will be great advantages. We are talking
an evolution rather than revolution."
Network Rail has said it welcomes contributions on the debate on the
future of rail. However, one source said: "We do not see the argument
for atomising the railway. We think the logic against it is quite
remorseless.
"If you split the railway up into half a dozen railway teams, are you
then going to go back to the contractural relationships that did not
work under Railtrack?"
Earlier in April, Tory leader David Cameron said the Conservatives
would put rail "at the heart" of Britain's transport system.