Rail reform
We asked passengers their views on the future of rail travel
2023 is a key year for reforming the railways so that they provide a better service for passengers. The Government is setting up ‘Great British Railways’ (GBR) to end the fragmentation of the rail industry, and plans to set up a new railway system that works better for passengers.
To influence this important transition, London TravelWatch has been talking to people who use the train in and around London, to help understand what their priorities are for train services both now and in the future. As the Government gets ready to set up Great British Railways, we’ll be using this research to lobby for what London’s rail passengers have told us they need.
Key findings
Two thirds of Londoners told us they would be put off from using the railways if the frequency of their train was cut in future
Less than half of people were satisfied with current levels of crowding on trains, despite this having got much better in the last two years due to fewer people travelling
Only 39% of people surveyed consider the railways to be good value for money
38% of people were dissatisfied with toilet facilities at stations, and many were also dissatisfied with the availability of bike and car parking
17% of disabled passengers were very dissatisfied with connections with other forms of transport and 18% with step-free access in stations and boarding trains
58% of people said they got most of their information about changes to their train service at the station, higher than any other option – online, social media, apps or alerts
