Can David Higgins deliver a better value railway?
A better value railway should certainly be possible, but how easy that will be with the current ownership and regulatory structure is hard to say. One has to ask; better value for whom?
Fare rises will help pay for investment but are also there to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. Any money saved by the Treasury will no doubt go towards deficit reduction, meaning passengers are unlikely to see a ‘return on investment’ – any small improvement in comfort or train frequency is unlikely to be worth the 3% plus inflation they will be paying, on average.
Better value for the Government? Maybe – but that is hardly going to set the world alight.
Hopefully Higgins’ next few months in the job will give us a clearer insight into whether he has big ideas, or plans to be a competent manager of the status quo.
