The British government has finally bowed to pressures for reforms in its much-criticized rail transport system as authorities prepare to launch a major review into how issues like franchising, time-table changes and strikes have affected passengers and unions.
The UK Department for Transport announced on Thursday that Keith Williams, a former British Airways chief executive, will head the “root and branch” review of the railways to come up with ideas for reforms in the rail transpiration system.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said in a statement that the review will be the most significant since privatization in the 1990s, adding that reforms that would be recommended by Williams and his panel will start from 2020.
The review will consider issues like industry structures, accountability, and value for money for passengers and taxpayers. However, the most pressing of all issues for the panel to study would be the franchising system…