There are seven main ways in which the cost of rail travel could be reduced. Make Network Rail more efficientWith billions of overspending on one project alone, electrification of the Great Western mainline, financial issues at rail’s infrastructure manager have become painfully public. “That’s at the core of what keeps pushing fares up – Network Rail gobbles up all the money,” says rail historian Christian Wolmar. “There is no doubt that Network Rail has no incentive to reduce costs and has not driven down costs. The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, insists profits are slim, with margins of around 3%.

Source: The Guardian August 19, 2017 15:00 UTC