Private Sector Open Access Operators in the UK have been a huge success and should continue to be key market players
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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. |
Greater Anglia: Award-Winning Operator Transfers to Public Ownership
At the weekend, Greater Anglia (GA) — one of Britain’s most successful rail operators — transferred to public ownership, under the government’s plan to renationalise passenger rail.
South Western Railway Proves Nationalisation Is No Silver Bullet – and Civil Servants Must Stop Blaming the Private Sector
Bringing train operations under public control was meant to facilitate closer working between SWR and infrastructure manager Network Rail to deliver better outcomes for customers. The recent performance figures simply do not bear this out.
John Thomas, ALLRAIL’s Policy Director, attended the Conservative Party Conference
John Thomas, ALLRAIL's Policy Director, attended the Conservative Party Conference on 6th and 7th October 2025 in Manchester, UK. Among others, he met with Iain Stewart, the ex-chair of the Transport Select Committee, and Jerome Mayhew Member of Parliament (MP), the Shadow Minister (Transport).
200 Years of Railways – Time for the UK to Empower Regions and Encourage Competition
200 years ago, the world’s first train ran between Stockton and Darlington – a private initiative that showed how bold ideas could transform mobility and society. As the UK celebrates this anniversary, the government plans to centralise the system under Great British Railways (GBR). But with no clear KPIs, untested promises of savings, and fares set to rise by a whopping 5.8% next March, a giant new public body risks delivering less choice and little innovation.