4 minute read
A local voice on a national network
Jason Hurst, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP, explains why he believes now is the time for devolved authorities and regional bodies to have a clear picture of their transport vision
There is an important tension at the heart of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.
On the one hand, the plan focuses on prioritising passenger needs. To deliver this, the national network will need to be informed and shaped by local input. For this to be possible, the plan recognises that current devolved authorities will continue to exercise their existing powers, including procuring operators and setting fares. In addition, towns, cities and regions will have greater input through new partnerships with Great British Railways (GBR).
On the other hand, the plan also emphasises the need to tackle fragmentation and operate the railway as a single national network under the banner of GBR.
Decision making These two principles could be at odds with each other – how can we operate a single national network while at the same time ensure that decision making is brought closer to the people and places that the railway serves? The answer is in the design of the decision-making structure. It will need to enable GBR, the devolved authorities and regional transport bodies to work closely together, combining local knowledge and national level thinking, to result in the best outcome for the passenger. However, the time this will take should not be underestimated.
It is proposed that there will be five regional divisions, called ‘regional railways’, within GBR and their role will be central to ensuring that there is a local focus to decision making. But given the breadth of the current regional structure within Network Rail – the Eastern Region, for example, stretches from Essex to Northumberland – the new GBR divisions will need to work with a range of parties across the geography (devolved authorities, regional transport bodies, towns and cities) to ensure that decisions made across the regional railways are in the best interests of the local passengers.
Single point of contact Historically, it has been a challenge for local towns and cities to influence the railway significantly, let alone regional bodies.
This was due in part to the complexity of the system and the multiple parties involved in driving any initiative forward, such as a station enhancement. The plan addresses this issue and recommends a single point of contact within each regional division which should help to make the process more transparent.
How possible this will be however, given the significant geography that the regions will cover, will be the key test.
Achieving the right balance will not be easy as there are a number of obstacles to overcome, for example:
Devolved authorities are at different levels of maturity and so a different approach will be needed for each, and their input will likely differ. They will also have different agendas specific to the geographies they serve, along with a desire to push for further devolution;
The capability and capacity of some regional transport bodies, cities and towns may be limited and, as such, GBR may need to support them to ensure that their local knowledge is leveraged and considered along with the wider regional view.
With ‘levelling up’ a key government focus, the railway’s ability to make decisions and deliver for local people is more important than ever. But they are likely to move forward at different paces, given the desire to achieve tangible results from levelling up and the timing of GBR being formally in place.
What is clear is that devolved authorities, regional transport bodies, towns and cities, will need to really understand what they want from the railway and how it is best integrated with the area’s wider transport vision. This will also help to inform their discussions with GBR as partnerships are agreed. Ultimately, all parties involved will want what is best for the passenger and a successful, easy to use, integrated transport solution will only be achieved by effective collaboration between them all.
The sector is facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set the direction for a passengerfocused railway that really does consider the needs of local passengers in its decision-making process, and it needs to be seized.
Grant Thornton’s Public Services Advisory has significant experience in providing advice to central and local governments and transport authorities.
For more information, Visit grantthornton.co.uk
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