Secretary of State for Transp[ort (): On Tuesday 18 February, I
launched the public consultation for
the government's upcoming Railways Bill. This consultation
sets out our proposals for the most comprehensive reform of
Britain's railways in 30 years, ending decades of fragmentation
and inefficiency and delivering a simplified model built from the
ground up to serve its users.
Our country needs an efficient, modern railway that kickstarts
growth and realises the potential of our towns, cities and
businesses. An affordable, reliable railway brings new markets
and job opportunities closer to those who stand ready to make the
most of them. It makes education, healthcare, public services and
even just the support of family and friends more accessible to
those who need it. A railway that offers a genuine alternative to
road travel, combined with a thriving rail freight sector, means
cleaner air and less congestion for everyone.
As you are aware, this government is delivering our Plan for Change with
investment and reform driving growth, putting more money in
people's pockets, and rebuilding Britain. Reforming our railways
is central to this and will drive improved performance, bringing
more people back to rail, generating greater revenue and reducing
costs. This consultation document sets out our vision for the
future of Britain's railways and the transformative changes that
are already underway to make it a reality.
Our manifesto commitment to put passengers and communities back
at the heart of the railways by establishing Great British
Railways (GBR) is
central to achieving this plan. We have already delivered the
legislation to bring our railways back into public ownership, set
up Shadow GBR, and
reset industrial relations with the trade unions. The publication
of this consultation marks our next step in fixing the railways
once and for all.
The consultation sets out our plans to establish GBR as a new arm's length body,
bringing responsibility for train services and rail
infrastructure together into one integrated organisation. This
means most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on
GBR tracks, and
arrive at GBR
stations – all delivered by a single organisation in line with
the clear strategic direction set by government. GBR will be empowered with the
expertise and authority to run the railway in the public
interest, delivering reliable, affordable, high-quality, and
efficient services; alongside ensuring safety and accessibility.
The private sector will continue to play a vital role under the
new model, from freight and open access services to ticket
retailing, rolling stock and the wider supply chain. GBR will leverage the best of
both the public and private sectors to unlock growth and drive
innovation. GBR will
follow fair, efficient and transparent processes when allocating
access to the network, with a robust set of protections for
third-party operators enshrined in law. There will also be a
statutory duty on GBR
to promote the use of rail freight, recognising the sector's
growth potential and helping to deliver on the government's
commitment to net zero.
GBR will have a new
customer-focused culture, ensuring passengers are at the heart of
everything it does. This will be reinforced by the establishment
of a powerful new independent passenger watchdog that will
monitor standards, champion improvements, and ensure passengers
feel they have a clear voice within the industry standing up for
them.
A reliable, affordable, and efficient railway is vital to
supporting the government's growth mission, not only in
connecting people to jobs and opportunities but also contributing
to the regeneration and integration of local communities. The
proposals in this consultation protect and enhance the roles of
devolved leaders, both in Scotland and Wales and within England,
in shaping how the railway serves their communities. Existing
devolution settlements will be protected and devolved leaders
will benefit from new statutory roles, drawing on their
experiences and expertise to manage, plan and develop a network
that delivers for communities. We will continue to work closely
with these leaders as we shape this role to ensure the benefits
of our reforms are felt across Britain. In addition, established
mayoral strategic authorities will have a right to request
further rail devolution within England, bringing decision-making
closer to those who use the railways.
The publication of this consultation marks the next milestone in
delivering the legislation needed to transform our railways,
unlocking their potential to drive growth, and contribute to a
decade of national renewal under this government. We are
therefore seeking the views of passengers, freight customers,
industry suppliers and experts, and the public at large ahead of
the introduction of the Railways Bill later in this session. Only
once we have these views can we deliver a system that truly
serves its customers, provides better value for hardworking
taxpayers, acts as an engine for growth and opportunity, and that
stands once again as a point of pride for modern Britain.
