Last month, the New Statesman published a booklet highlighting the significant benefits that open access operators continue to provide on Britain’s railways.

It is clear that open access operators, in competition with each other and with the state-owned operator LNER, have delivered for customers and communities.

• Lower fares, more choice
  Head-to-head competition has reduced fares and given customers a choice of operator.
• More passengers and revenue
  In the UK, Hull Trains and Grand Central saw fast recovery post-pandemic and have grown passenger numbers and revenues overall.
• Private investment, not taxpayer subsidy
  New rolling stock and station improvements – paid for by private sector operators, not the Treasury and with all risks sitting with those operators.
• Reconnecting underserved communities
  Sunderland, Hull, Bradford and intermediate stations such as Thirsk, Hartlepool, Brighouse, Halifax and Selby enjoy direct London services.
• Environmental benefits
  Competition from the open access operator Lumo has shifted a significant number of passengers from air to rail on their Edinburgh to London service.

We will shortly be getting long overdue competition from Stirling to London and Carmarthen to London where customers and communities can expect the same benefits as those provided on the East Coast mainline.

“The benefits to customers of open access competition, in terms of lower fares, better connections to under-served communities and the quality of service provided, are undeniable. If the Government is serious about creating a more customer-focused railway, open access competition should remain an integral part of the reformed railway.”