Williams wants to take railway management away from DfT

The man in charge of the Department for Transport’s Rail Review says the DfT should take a back seat and stop managing franchises. Keith Williams believes a new post or organisation is needed, because ‘someone needs to be accountable to the public’. He added that such a change would be ‘key for regaining public trust’. He says the DfT should limit its involvement to setting general policies and deciding budgets, but he is apparently ruling out suggestions that Network Rail should take over franchise awards and management.