Railways plan devolved management

NR said it was creating a number of new, business units run by managing directors. These will be rolled out for Scotland and its Wessex area, covering the London, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and Dorset, first, with other routes following as soon as possible.

The changes were announced by chief executive David Higgins at a time when the company is under fire over costs and performance.

“Each new route managing director will, in effect, be running their own infrastructure railway business with significant annual turnover and resources,” he said.

“This represents a significant change of emphasis to give our people on the routes the ability and the means to deliver a bigger, better, more affordable railway.”

He said there would continue to be a critical role for a supporting centre that helps make the most of economies of scale. The railway still had to be planned and operated as a network which operated seamlessly.