(Reuters) -Britain’s rail regulator said on Wednesday the tendering process should be more competitive for railway station catering outlets.
Late last year, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said in a draft report the stalls were staying in the same hands for extended periods due to protected leases, and the rail catering market was “not working effectively”.
The report also found that station operators did not have sufficient incentives to invite competition for the outlets with leases due to expire.
ORR’s final report on Wednesday that recommended more competition includes a suggestion for simpler and standardised contracts for new entrants.
It said there was a need for more strategic direction and support to station operators by public funders.
The ORR asked all parties addressed in its report, including the largest single player in station catering, SSP, to submit a plan that sets out key milestones and timeline for implementation, and to designate an officer accountable for the delivery of the remedies.
SSP said in an email to Reuters that it will continue to work with the ORR.
(Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D’Souza and Shinjini Ganguli)
