- Blake-Jones Review into last year’s timetable disruption
across the north published
- 9 recommendations focused on improving passenger trust and
increasing transparency
- since May 2018, performance on both franchises has improved,
with significant strengthening of industry timetable process.
The joint review of the Rail North Partnership (RNP), commissioned by Councillor
and Rail Minister
in response to the problems
delivering the May 2018 timetable in the north, has been published
today (19 July 2019).
The 9 recommendations of the Blake-Jones review include both long
and short-term actions, including improvements to how
the RNP functions so that it
plays an active role in the design and delivery of rail services
across the north.
There will also be greater oversight of RNP decision making, with
increased visibility to help identify risks and challenges
earlier and ensure better outcomes for passengers and the railway
industry.
Rail Minister, , said:
Working closely with Transport for the North, our absolute
priority is to deliver reliable services. This review sets out
how we can work to ensure passengers get the journeys they
expect, and restore trust in our railway.
We continue to see performance improving, significant
investment delivering new and refurbished trains across the
north, and industry expert Richard George is continuing to
drive forward a recovery plan to deliver better journeys.
Councillor , Leader of Leeds City
Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Lead,
said:
While some stability has been restored since May 2018, rail
passengers in the north continue to experience punctuality and
reliability below acceptable levels. The rail industry lost
sight of the need to put the interests of passengers first and
our recommendations will significantly strengthen the voice of
passengers and local accountability in the way rail services in
the north operate.
I hope proposals from the forthcoming Williams Review will
address some of the broader issues raised by last year’s
disruption including the need to greater integrate track and
train and to deepen devolution arrangements over rail services
to the north.
Other recommendations include better governance of the
partnership, improved internal communications and how
accountability behind the scenes can be more transparent across
the north.
Recommendations will also build on the industry changes already
in place and the two subsequent timetable changes in December
2018 and May 2019, which have helped to improve reliability
across the north.
Since last year, the rail industry has planned and implemented
the summer 2019 timetable change, focussing on learning the
lessons from last year and developing new and strengthened
assurance processes.
People across the north have also started to see new trains
across the network, alongside the extra 2,000 services a
week already delivered. The introduction of Northern’s new
trains is another milestone moment, providing passengers
with more comfortable, frequent and reliable journeys.
Transport for the North will consider an action plan at its July
board meeting.
