The start of Network Rail’s devolution signals greater freedom for local areas to achieve the best value for money for their section of the railway, and offers the ability to make decisions which can be tailored to their particular passengers.

However, certain issues can benefit from a centralist approach; best for one area does not always equate with what is best for the whole network overall.

Central management of the entire network can even create efficiencies in terms of procurement, ultimately making the railway cheaper to run and maintain. Each devolved route will operate in a slightly different way, and while these differences will promote creativity they could limit overall effectiveness.

Yet the advantages of dividing control in this way could prove successful, even if savings are made in a different way than would have occurred under a central Network Rail.