Transport Committee seeks progress update on Great British Railways

From 09.30, Wednesday 30 March 2022, Grimond Room

In this one-off oral evidence session, MPs on the Transport Committee seek an update on the progress of Great British Railways, the new public body proposed by the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail which was published in May 2021.

Described by the Secretary of State, Grant Shapps MP as marking “a new era in the history of our railways”, Great British Railways will own the infrastructure, receive the fare revenue, run and plan the network and set most fares and timetables. It will take on the responsibility and accountability for running the railways, largely absorbing bodies such as Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group. The Secretary of State’s ambition is for Great British Railways to become “a single, familiar brand.”

Likely subjects for discussion include:

• The structure and powers of Great British Railways;
• The recovery of the rail sector post-pandemic and changing ridership patterns;
• The creation and implementation of the new Passenger Service Contracts; and
• Fare and ticketing reform.

Witnesses, from 09.30:

• Wendy Morton MP, Minister of State for Transport
• Conrad Bailey CBE, Director General, Rail Strategy and Services, Department for Transport
• Andrew Haines OBE, Transition Team Lead, Great British Railways and Chief Executive, Network Rail

Further information:  

• Department for Transport: The William-Shapps Plan for Rail,  published 20 May 2021
• Transport Select Committee’s oral evidence transcript: Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, 26 May 2021 
• House of Commons Library, The future of rail: research briefing, 22 December 2021