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UK National Audit Office publications

Work in Progress: Passenger Rail Franchising Study Outline

This study will examine the 2005-07 passenger rail franchise competitions, concentrating on those that are already in service, to assess whether the Department for Transport (DfT) shared risks and rewards in a way that is likely to deliver value for money.

DfT spends around £1.7 billion directly supporting passenger rail services. It is important for the quality and reliability of passenger services and the overall cost to Government that DfT develops appropriate franchise specifications and incentive regimes, allocates risks well, awards franchises on the basis of a realistic and robust assessment of each bid and manages the franchises effectively.

This study will examine where public money goes, how the Department for Transport shares risks and rewards and the potential results for passengers.

Publication Schedule

We expect to publish our report in Summer 2008.

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