The UK Rail Industry 2006 - 2011

The rail industry certainly has gone through many changes during the last five years, for example, the fast ticket machines and online ticket purchasing have provided a fast service for the industry’s growing passenger numbers. To attract more passengers the rail industry will have to face and work on their poor image that has been created by the price perception (Mintel, 2010) and regain public trust. Network Rail’s operational costs are 30% higher than equivalent services in Germany and France; therefore there is an opportunity of reducing their costs so that it is cheaper for rail companies to rent the rail tracks which could bring a reduction in ticket prices. (Milmo, 2010). Additionally, the industry will always be subjected to the changes in the economy such as spending cuts given that it is a publicly funded service. Despite the apparent benefits of high-speed rail, the nation might have to suffer consequences from some overlooked effects. The new high-speed rail service will displace certain existing services which will see a reduction in a number of other trains. …