Sector
Rail and transport
Our primary sector: the intersection of policy, operations, and technology in UK rail and transport — where the stakes are high and the complexity is real.
Lionar's work is centred on UK rail and transport — one of the most complex delivery environments in the country, where policy ambition, regulatory constraint, commercial pressure, and technological change intersect on multi-year timescales.
We work with transport authorities, operators, and delivery bodies across a range of programmes. Our depth is in the systems and operations that matter most to passengers and revenues: fares, ticketing, retail, and PAYG — areas where the stakes are high, the dependencies are broad, and the margin for error is narrow.
Rail transformation programmes are among the most demanding advisory environments: multi-stakeholder, multi-year, politically sensitive, and operationally live. That complexity is where we do our best work.
Who we work with
Typical clients and stakeholders
- Transport authorities and combined authorities
- Train operating companies
- Infrastructure and delivery bodies
- Central government and DfT-adjacent programmes
- Ticketing and retail delivery partners
What we cover
Fares and ticketing reform
Design and delivery of complex fares changes, including regulatory compliance, technology alignment, and customer-impact management.
PAYG and contactless schemes
End-to-end programme advisory for pay-as-you-go scheme design, procurement, delivery, and transition — from business case through to go-live.
Retail transformation
Operating model and channel strategy for ticket retail, including online, app, and station-based channels — and the operational change needed to deliver it.
Operational change
Supporting authorities and operators through service design changes, network restructuring, fleet and depot programmes, and workforce transitions.
Governance and assurance
Programme-level oversight for rail transformation initiatives — from business case development and gate reviews through to benefits realisation.
Discuss a programme
Tell us about what you're working on — we'd welcome a conversation.