CIRO Fellows: “Integrated transport needs a consistent vision.”

Senior rail professionals say greater consistency within the visions of transport industry leadership is needed as part of a long-term transport strategy in England. They have also called for better integration between different modes of transport, including integrated ticketing, the use of technology to support seamless journeys, and simplification of information.

These ideas have been collected as part of the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators’ response to the Department for Transport’s consultation on the Government’s Integrated National Transport Strategy, which closed today. CIRO is the only professional institution dedicated to railway operations, and the responses were collated following consultation with CIRO’s Fellows, the most experienced in its membership base, on their views on this strategy.

The response outlines how decision-makers need to take a ‘whole-system’ approach to change, streamlining processes while encouraging integration across the industry. In doing so, the transport network can become more connected and better serve both passengers and businesses.

This must be led by experienced, competent leaders who are driven by local needs, rather than top-down influences. They must coordinate their visions strategically and focus their decisions on the needs of both passengers and businesses. Increasingly, railway operators suggest these leaders need to be separated from government and carefully selected.

An optimised approach to data and technology should recognise the key role they both play in providing integrated and seamless transport solutions for passengers. At the same time, both operators and passengers are asking for simplification. The industry also needs a clear technology development channel for providers to submit their creations.

CIRO CEO Phil Sherratt said: “The view of senior rail operators is that rail has an important role to play in the country’s transport policy and should be a key feature of an Integrated National Transport Strategy. However, to harness that potential, we need a consistent strategic vision, simpler structures, improved integration, better use of data, and we need to harness technology to enable seamless journeys.

“My thanks go to our Fellows who contributed their thoughts and informed this response.”

You can read CIRO’s full organisational response to this consultation here.