The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is to investigate railway station catering, aiming to make the market work as well as possible for passengers.

In an announcement today, ORR explained that retailers find railway stations commercially attractive locations, with customers spending well over one billion pounds per year.

As passengers return to the railway after the Covid-19 pandemic, custom for rail station retail outlets is also rising.

ORR’s approach is that a good experience of catering enhances the journey as a whole, and that consumers benefit when provided with:

• value for money
• competition between retailers
• convenience
• choice
• quality products
• price-competition
• customer service

The regulator is gathering information on the structure of the market, the effectiveness of competition and outcomes for consumers.

It has published two documents  – Statement of Scope and Market Study Notice – and is inviting submissions from interested parties on the issues raised in them.

The documents can be viewed here, and include further details on the subject matter and timing of the study.

Written submissions on the market study should be emailed to [email protected] by 7 July 2023.

Grahame Horgan, ORR’s head of competition, said: “As consumers across the country are affected by the rising cost of living, we want to ensure that passengers are getting affordable food and beverages when using station facilities. It is important that the railway industry gives consumers good value for money and improves their journey experience.”