Executive summary -- Chapter one: context, aims and objectives -- Chapter two: the framework of European railway law -- Chapter three: the comparator rail networks -- Chapter four: markets, competition and franchising -- Chapter five: government, funding, procurement and regulation -- Chapter six: separating infrastructure and operations -- Chapter seven: subcontracting in infrastructure and operations -- Chapter eight: conclusions

Looks at various aspects of the operation, funding and regulation of railways in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand to discover if there are lessons which can be learnt from them for railways in Scotland. All the railway systems considered are peripheral or isolated railway networks serving small populations, with large sections of single track and one or more urban commuter lines.