'Broken' railway system to be reviewed following series of crises

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Critics have called the system broken following a succession of crises which have seen passengers across the country face ongoing cancellations, strikes and reduced timetables. Its review – set to be announced by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, on Thursday – is expected to examine how issues such those faced by the East Coast Mainline can be avoided in the future This week the transport select committee described the bid to run the service by Stagecoach and Virgin Trains as "naive" and said the Department for Transport must take the blame for not managing it effectively. Mr Grayling himself has also faced questions over his handling of the disruption faced by passengers on Thameslink and Great Northern trains following the introduction of new timetables. Andy McDonald, shadow transport secretary, said: "Long-suffering rail passengers don't need a review to explain to them that the franchising system is broken beyond repair.