Watchdog rules rail infrastructure deal could leave passengers worse off
The Competition and Markets Authority’s provisional findings could lead to the merger involving Hitachi and Thales being blocked.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UK’s competition watchdog has provisionally ruled that Hitachi’s 1.7 billion euro (£1.36 billion) proposed purchase of Thales’s rail infrastructure could drive up prices and reduce service quality for passengers.
The findings could lead to the merger being blocked.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal involves two of the leading suppliers of signalling systems for mainline and urban railway networks.
It could therefore mean Network Rail and the London Underground lose out on digital signalling options because it would lessen competition in the market.
Healthy competition in this market is essential to support innovation as well as to keep costs down
The industry is already highly concentrated with a small number of suppliers, the CMA said. Siemens and Alstom are the other two leading firms.
An in-depth probe was launched in December after the watchdog raised concerns over the deal.
Hitachi and Thales did not offer any changes to appease the fears of the CMA, so it pressed ahead with a phase two investigation.
The CMA added that the merger could raise costs for Network Rail and negatively impact the digitalisation of the UK’s rail network.
Stuart McIntosh, chairman of the independent inquiry group for the CMA, said: “UK railway networks spend millions of pounds each year maintaining and upgrading signalling systems which ensure transport networks run smoothly and passengers remain safe.
“Healthy competition in this market is essential to support innovation as well as to keep costs down.
“We have provisionally found that, should the merger go ahead, it would reduce the number of signalling suppliers in what is already a highly concentrated industry, and the resulting loss of competition could leave transport networks and passengers worse off.
“We will now consult on our findings and on how Hitachi and Thales might address our concerns, in a way that protects passengers and delivers the Government’s objective for a more reliable, efficient and modern railway.”
Hitachi remains of the firm view that the merger will not substantially lessen competition for UK signalling projects
The CMA could decide to force Hitachi or Thales to sell parts of their existing businesses to ease competition concerns, or the merger could be blocked altogether.
A spokesman for Hitachi Rail said: “We are disappointed by the CMA’s provisional findings and will now closely examine how we can respond to the concerns raised.
“Hitachi remains of the firm view that the merger will not substantially lessen competition for UK signalling projects.”
Hitachi said it aims to cooperate with the watchdog and make changes to find a way forward.
“This merger will be good for competition and benefit customers in the UK and internationally”, the spokesman added.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.