Plans for a landmark bill to rewire Britain’s railways were unveiled by the Government on Tuesday 18 February.
The overhaul will establish Great British Railways (GBR), the new body bringing track and train together, delivering reliable services for passengers and catalysing growth across the country. The plans will put passengers at the forefront of all decisions made on the railways.
Through this consultation the Government will be working with industry to unite train and track, and end end to outdated and inefficient processes which have resulted in poor performance, timetable chaos, and complex fares and ticketing. It will also give devolved leaders more of a say on the services that directly impact their towns and cities.
Growth is key priority of the Government’s Plan for Change and one of GBR’s guiding principles will be to work closely with the private sector to create jobs and drive investment and innovation.
This includes investing billions of pounds in the private sector supply chain, so that improvements to the network are more coordinated, giving longer-term assurance to businesses. A long-term rail strategy will give industry certainty on what they can expect, including a long-term plan for rolling stock.
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: “In September, the government set up Shadow Great British Railways, bringing together leaders from Network Rail, publicly-owned rail operators, and parts of the Department for Transport to kickstart the transition to this new way of working and the government’s future vision for the railways.
“Making that vision a reality requires new legislation. The Public Ownership Act has given us a head start; but the outdated model of franchising and fragmentation still runs throughout our existing law.
“That is why we are bringing forward a new Railways Bill: a once-in-a-generation overhaul of the fundamental rules, structures, and bodies that make up our rail industry. The Bill will enable us to establish GBR and give it the authority and autonomy it needs to run the network in the public interest. It will enable GBR to be empowered and drive better performance, increased revenue and cost reduction in the interests of passengers, freight customers and taxpayers.
“It will create a new watchdog to act as an independent voice and champion for passengers. It will also realise the economic and environmental benefits of rail freight through a new statutory duty, recognising the sector’s growth potential.
“This consultation seeks your views on these proposed measures and many others. With your input, this government is putting the railway back on the right track – towards a system that truly serves its passengers, that acts as an engine for growth and opportunity, and that stands once again as a point of pride for modern Britain.”
The consultation will last for eight weeks.
The full Government announcement can be viewed here.
Your responses can be logged here.
Image credit: GOV.UK
