Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has today (Tuesday 3 September) fired the starting gun on rail reform by launching Shadow Great British Railways (Shadow GBR).
Shadow GBR will pave the way for Great British Railways – a new unified arm’s length body responsible for bringing track and train back together and overseeing both services and infrastructure.
Today’s announcement comes as the Government’s Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill continues its passage through the Commons, marking further progress in the Transport Secretary’s mission to put rail services back into the hands of the public.
The legislation reinforces the Government’s relentless focus on reversing decades of delays, cancellations and unreliable services on Britain’s railways. It aims to prioritise passengers over private companies, while saving taxpayers up to an estimated £150 million every year in fees alone.
As part of the plans for reform, the Government has recognised the need to speed up training for drivers and is collaborating with the sector to build resilience and improve productivity. Following a consultation this summer on lowering the minimum age for drivers from 20 to 18, the Government is reviewing the feedback and will lay out next steps in due course.
Transport Secretary Haigh said: “Today, I am firing the starting gun on the biggest reforms to our railways in a generation. I am determined to end the chaos, delay and disruption faced by people on train journeys every day.
“Establishing Shadow Great British Railways marks a significant step towards delivering a unified railway with passengers at its heart by bringing together track and train, and by progressing the Passenger Railways Services Bill we’re one step closer to public ownership which will help put our railways back on track.
“This Government will direct every penny into creating a stronger, more reliable rail network that works for everyone.
“This is about making the railways work for the people that use them – putting passengers first and driving up performance.”
Further measures set out by the Secretary of State today include the announcement of a new Rail Sale early next year, to tie in with celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain’s passenger railways. Returning by popular demand, the sale will aim to encourage more people on to the railways by offering up to 50 per cent off train tickets for a specific time period.
On top of this, tap-in tap-out technology will be rolled out at a further 45 stations next year thanks to nearly £27 million of Government funding, meaning simpler and more flexible train travel.
Commenting on the launch of Shadow GBR, Transport Focus Chief Executive Alex Robertson, said: “Passengers want and deserve a punctual and reliable railway that delivers on the timetable’s promise at an acceptable price.
“It is good to see passenger interests featuring so prominently in the reform. We’ll continue to work closely with Government and Shadow GBR to ensure the voice of transport users is at the heart of how the changes are implemented.”
Image credit: iStockphoto.com
