GOVERNMENT plans to overhaul the way the country’s railways are managed have been met with cautious optimism by politicians and campaigners in Bolton.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has outlined plans to change the way England’s rail network is run, which will involve joint management teams with representatives from train operator companies like Northern Rail alongside Network Rail.

Mr Grayling said it is his intention to ‘bring back together’ the operation of tack and train on railways across the country.

The changes will start when each franchise is renewed in the future and the Government believes the changes will lead to an improved service for rail users, including those in Bolton who for a long time have been suffering on a cramped and expensive network.

Under the plans, each new franchise would be run by one joint team, but the owners of the franchise and Network Rail would continue to exist as separate entities.

Bolton North East MP David Crausby is a long-time campaigner for improved rail services in Bolton.

He said: “I don’t think it is a bad thing for operators to have some say on the track, that area needs to be more efficient but I will want reassurances about safety before anything happens to break up the network.

“We should be assured that there are safeguards in place for this because I don’t think that was the case when rail was privatised in the first place.”

He added: “I don’t buy this argument that things can’t get any worse than they are right now, they can, but things certainly do need to change.”

Jeff Davies is the chair of the Bolton Rail Users Group, he believes the changes could have a positive effect.

He said: “While I wouldn’t have advocated separating track and trains in the first place, I’m not personally convinced that’s the cause of our present rail problems. It’s the failure of Network Rail to perform.”

“Major projects such as Bolton’s electrification are subject to long and increasing delays and huge cost overruns. The ordinary maintenance of track and other structures isn’t always good enough to prevent service interruptions and delayed or cancelled trains.

“It also goes way over budget. As Network Rail is a public sector body, the taxpayer ultimately bears the cost.

“I can only welcome the proposed change.

“Depending on how it’s structured, it could be our best chance of getting financial discipline and effective performance management into the improvement and ongoing maintenance of our rail infrastructure.”