FirstGroup makes its case for open access alongside Great British Railways

UK: FirstGroup has published Moving Forward Together: Why open access is essential for a better railway, a report setting out its case for retaining a ‘thriving’ open access sector as part of the restructured railway.

The company argues that privately-funded services without government contracts can drive growth across all operators including those to be controlled by Great British Railways.

The report was launched at a gathering of political and industry figures in Westminster on January 21. It makes four recommendations for the industry and government which FirstGroup believes could grow the rail sector by getting people out of cars and aircraft.

Acknowledging that ‘some people are sceptical’ about open access, First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery said the report is FirstGroup’s ‘contribution to the discussion’ and he believes ‘it is really important we don’t forget the wider benefits’ of the model.

While the government’s plans for GBR do allow for open access, Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander wrote to regulator the Office of Rail & Road on January 6 saying ‘we need to be mindful’ of revenue abstraction from contracted services and pressures on network capacity.

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