How much is it possible to deliver in a short-term franchise? Abellio has just been awarded the contract for East Anglia, but only until 2014.
That is not a great deal of time to provide an actual difference to the railway, with changes such as improving reliability and speed of journey times something that needs more time.
The move towards longer franchises could provide the rail industry with more security, leading to more freedom to make a difference.
If operators know that they will be able to reap the benefits of improvements, they are more likely to make them, ultimately benefiting passengers and the whole network.
Longer franchises are obviously more valuable to the companies that bid for them, meaning that greater competition could improve the quality of work when a contract is awarded.
So is longer better?
