London TravelWatch has responded to the cross-Industry Working Group's review of access planning on the railway network.

The access planning process is the system which plans the access to the railway network, such as timetable changes and engineering work, so this process is absolutely fundamental to passengers' experience of the railways.

In our full response, London TravelWatch welcomed the review of the current bureaucratic and ineffective process, and thought the important benefits for passengers were the simplification and clarity of the process, meaning more stakeholder involvement is possible, a closer relationship with franchises ensuring that passengers' needs are central, flexibility and transparency and clear involvement of stakeholders in major changes.

We recommended that there should be greater involvement of stakeholders and end-users at all stages where practical. It is essential that it is not just the industry views that are taken into account, but those of the passenger.

For media enquiries, please contact the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or 07734 055494.

The voice of London's transport users
24 March 2010