The troubled rail franchising system is set to be overhauled under Boris Johnson's new legislative programme announced today at the Queen's Speech.
The plans were trailed in the Sunday Telegraph this weekend, which suggested the Government wants to introduce a Bill to replace franchising with a model more focused on 'performance and reliability'.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps told The Sunday Telegraph that 'our priority is ensuring we have reliable trains which run on time, delivering the outstanding services communities across the country rely on'.
The reforms could come as early as next year however few concrete proposals are expected until the Williams review into the rail network is released.
The Queen's Speech is likely to include a commitment to publish a white paper based on recommendations from the ongoing rail review by former British Airways chief executive Keith Williams together with a pledge to act on the final advice.
One option reportedly being discussed is the concession model, which would see private companies being contracted to run the train lines but with local authorities setting fares and timetables.
The Johnson government does not have a majority in Parliament and so it is unclear how much of the legislative programme it can actually deliver however the franchising system as it stands is opposed by both unions and industry and so the move could spell the beginning of the end for the current system.
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