AS THE rail industry braces itself for the long-awaited McNulty report, it's been revealed that the Rail Delivery Group he is recommending will start meeting 'within weeks'.
Sir Roy is expected to make wide-ranging recommendations for saving money across the industry and also improving revenues by adjusting fares, particularly in the peak and shoulder peaks.
His plans are likely to trigger determined opposition from the rail unions as well as passenger watchdogs, because he is known to be critical of current pay levels in the industry and also expected to urge substantial reductions of staff numbers on trains and stations.
An industry source has told Railnews that the changes are to be co-ordinated by the new Rail Delivery Group, which will include two top-level directors from Network Rail as well as representatives of the main operators' groups, both passenger and freight.
Sir Roy himself is also expected to attend RDG meetings in an advisory capacity, but the new Group is not thought to include any representatives from the Department for Transport, although it seems inevitable that the transport secretary will be kept informed of its work.
The report is to be unveiled at the Office of Rail Regulation tomorrow morning.