Written statement by , Secretary of State for
Transport
Today (9 June 2022), my department launches a public consultation on the
primary legislative changes required to deliver structural reform
of our railways.
This follows publication of the Williams-Shapps Plan for
Rail (‘Plan for Rail’) in May 2021 which heralded the
start of the biggest transformation of Great Britain’s railways
in 3 decades, and announcement in the Queen’s Speech on
10 May 2022 to introduce a Transport Bill to Parliament which
will modernise rail services, put passengers and freight
customers first, deliver for taxpayers and combine the best of
the public and private sectors.
The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail highlighted the need for
change. It was clear our railways had become fragmented, the
system was complicated, and passengers deserved better. This
alongside spiralling costs, delays to upgrades and commercial
failures pointed to a railway in need of fundamental reform.
Getting this right means we can ensure this historic industry
delivers for its users, setting it on a more sustainable and
secure footing. It also means delivering a stronger, more
levelled up and increasingly green economy, of which the railways
are a crucial part.
Many of the commitments set out in the Plan for Rail do not
require legislation in order to take forward, and the government
is already working in close partnership with the rail industry to
deliver rapid improvements for passengers and freight customers.
For example, new flexible season
tickets went on sale last summer and we continue to work
with train operators to roll-out digital ticketing to make
journeys easier. We are also undertaking a comprehensive
accessibility audit of stations across Great Britain, continuing
to cut the costs and time of infrastructure work
through Project SPEED and
developing a 30-year whole industry strategic
plan.
In addition to this, we have launched the Great British Railways
Transition Team (GBRTT), under the
leadership of Andrew Haines, to drive forward reforms and develop
the model for a new arms-length body, Great British Railways,
including its initial structure, leadership and people.
GBRTT is
focused on establishing a new, customer-focused, industry
culture, driving revenue recovery efforts and establishing an
Interim Strategic Freight Unit to work collaboratively with the
sector, ensuring an immediate focus on delivery of the
government’s ambitions for rail freight. GBRTT is
also currently overseeing a competition for the
location of a national headquarters for Great British
Railways, to be based outside of London, in line with this
government’s commitment to levelling up.
However, primary legislation is required to deliver key elements
of structural reform set out in the Plan for Rail. This includes
providing Great British Railways, with the powers and authority
it needs to act as the single guiding mind for the railways,
ending years of fragmentation. The consultation launched today
seeks views of all those with an interest in our railways, to
help shape these reforms.
The consultation is focused across 3 key areas as outlined below.
The first is on the establishment of Great British Railways,
including its proposed functions and duties and how we propose to
legislate and work with stakeholders to enable Great British
Railways to become the single guiding mind for the railways.
The second is focused on how we will ensure clear
accountabilities in the rail sector through a new governance
framework, including the regulator’s role in providing
independent scrutiny and challenge.
The third centres on reform of wider industry structures and
processes that are needed to deliver transformation of the
railways and a new industry culture, including a new Passenger
Champion role for Transport Focus and
proposals for open data sharing.
Great British Railways is key to delivering a customer-focused
railway. The plans outlined in this consultation will deliver a
rail system that is the backbone of a cleaner, greener public
transport system, offering passengers and freight customers a
better deal and greater value for money for taxpayers.
The private sector has played an integral role in improving our
railways over the past 25 years – these plans are designed to
take the best of the private sector and fuse it with a single
guiding mind that can drive benefits and efficiencies across the
system as a whole.
I hope that all of those with an interest in our railways will
find the time to participate and share their views through this
consultation. Sharing your views will help to ensure the
legislative changes we enact will deliver the vision set out in
the Plan for Rail, securing our railways so that they are able to
flourish into the future and as we approach their bicentenary in
2025.
