THE ROLE OF ATOC IN POSITIVE CHANGE

In this article, the Director General of ATOC (Association of Train Operating Companies) explains how the British train operating companies (TOCs) are collaborating more and more. The TOCs receive fares from passengers and subsidies from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). They are the railways' system integrators, and buy everything they need to provide their services to passengers. This structure is powerful, because both it and the TOCs are focused on customers. The rest of the British rail industry obtains its income from the TOCs. During the last three and a half years, the TOCs have achieved: (1) growth, including a 25% rise in passenger miles during the last four years, so that the rail network is now being used more intensively than ever before; (2) punctuality, which is still above its level before privatisation, despite some setbacks due to passenger growth and new services; and (3) new trains, so that half the fleet will be new or refurbished by 2002. The greatest improvement has been in customer service, so that it is easier and easier for passengers to use the railways, and staff are informed and helpful. The National Rail Enquiry Service (NRS) provides a national telephone enquiry service. ATOC now has a six-year programme to improve services to customers even more, through several policy groups.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00268356
• Corporate Authors:

  Ian Allan Publishing, Limited

  Riverdene Business Park, Riverdene Industrial Estate
  Molesey Road
  Walton-on-Tham, Surrey  United Kingdom  KT12 4RG
• Authors:
  • MUIR, G
• Publication Date: 2000-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 45-7
• Serial:
  • MODERN RAILWAYS
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue Number: 616
  • Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing, Limited
  • ISSN: 0026-8356

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demand; Financing; Improvements; Income; Industries; Networks; Organizations; Partnerships; Passenger information systems; Privatization; Public transit; Quality control; Railroad trains; Railroad transportation; Tariffs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quality; Transportation networks
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 285: Demand (econ); 244: Financing; 9108: Improvement; 256: Income; 332: Industry; 1054: Network (traffic); 9057: Organization (association); 219: Partnership; 8786: Passenger information; 171: Privatisation; 744: Public transport; 9063: Quality; 1173: Rail bound transport; 241: Tariff; 1268: Train; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00790273
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Apr 11 2000 12:00AM