The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is inviting responses on 4 possible options for reform on the 3 main intercity routes: the East and West Coast main lines and the Great Western route.
These are the options which the CMA consider most likely to bring benefits to passengers on those routes:

• Option 1 – retaining the existing market structure, but with significantly increased open access operations
• Option 2 – 2 franchisees for each franchise
• Option 3 – more overlapping franchises
• Option 4 – licensing multiple operators, subject to conditions

This is a long-term project and it is not expected that these proposals would be implemented until 2023 at the earliest, so as to protect the rights of current franchisees and current and imminent franchise tender processes.

The CIHT do not intend to submit a response to the consultation but would encourage members who are interested or affected by the proposals to respond.