Consultation was carried out during the first half of 2019, with the report looking at various aspects such as the conditions of use, the provision of the transport service and the relative attractiveness of the sector compared with alternative modes.
Rail freight
The general assessment from both freight operators and users was not positive, the report found. Operators pointed to the difficulty of competing with road due to issues such as a lack of interoperability across the network, as well as economic factors such as a shortage of rolling stock, and called for a change in regulations.
Rail freight customers said they were looking for a more flexible offering in terms of both freight transport and the provision of first and last mile services, and called for an improvement to the design and management of terminals.
Passenger rail
The report found the situation in the passenger sector was more favourable, although attitudes to the different services such as high-speed and conventional rail varied.
While high-speed was the most appreciated, the report said investment was still needed to improve conventional rail services as well as a push to promote rail as an environmentally-friendly mode of transport.
Views on the upcoming market liberalisation were also mixed, as there was uncertainty around whether the move would benefit the entire network or just the most commercially-attractive routes, reducing the funding available for other routes.
The report also found that there was a variation in the level of service available at stations across the network, with more investment needed in some areas.
