Specifically in relation to passenger service operations, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, private sector companies operated passenger services under a franchise model but still received some level of government funding. The amount of government funding provided to train operators has increased in recent years, changing from a net surplus paid to the Department to net a deficit paid to operators in 2018–19.34 In March 2020, the Department told us it made a “conscious choice” to keep rail servi...

Specifically in relation to passenger service operations, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, private sector companies operated passenger services under a franchise model but still received some level of government funding. The amount of government funding provided to train operators has increased in recent years, changing from a net surplus paid to the Department to net a deficit paid to operators in 2018–19.34 In March 2020, the Department told us it made a “conscious choice” to keep rail services running during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the dramatic reduction in passenger numbers and associated revenue earned by operators. As a result, ta Type: conclusion | Number: 14 | Response status: not_addressed