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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Formed in 2000, the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators( CIRO) is the only organisation representing the profession of railway operations.
CIRO was created at the dawn of privatisation due to a fear that the separation of track and train would have unintended consequences within the industry.
Operations is at the heart of running a safe and punctual railway. This means that CIRO is uniquely placed to comment on the challenges and opportunities of bringing the railway together for customers under Great British Railways.
With our mission to lead, inspire and accelerate the growth of rail professionals and to support the success of railway organisations, we are passionate about developing people with the skills and competencies to enable the railway to fulfil its potential, delivering for its passenger and freight customers and supporting the prosperity of the UK economy.
CIRO supports the creation of Great British Railways. The case for reform is compelling and the direction of travel is right. But support for an idea is not the same as confidence that every question has been answered.
Good progress is being made in vertically integrating the railway. The creation of Integrated Railways in Kent, Anglia, Wessex and the West Midlands is beginning to show the benefits of combining track and train. But the purpose of Great British Railways is not just to vertically integrate – it is to create a simpler, more accountable railway with one organisation. www. ciro. org
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