The Railways Bill – which will create Great British Railways (GBR) – is being laid in Parliament.
The new publicly-owned company which will bring together passenger services and manage rail infrastructure, moving away from a privatised system.
The UK Government said that GBR, which will be headquartered in Derby, will create a “simpler, more unified railway that delivers easier and better value journeys”. This will include a new one-stop-shop app where passengers can check train times and book tickets, as well as a strengthened passenger watchdog which will have powers to investigate poor service and demand improvements.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“Britain deserves a railway fit for the future. One that restores a lost sense of pride and rebuilds the trust of its passengers, with a relentless focus on their needs and the growth of their communities.
“The introduction of this landmark legislation today is a major step to delivering a railway that serves Britain’s public and businesses – paving the way for growth and opportunity across the country.”
The Railways Bill builds on the UK Government’s public ownership programme, with almost 50% of the rail passenger journeys that Great British Railways will ultimately be responsible for now operated by publicly owned companies.
Major changes coming in through the Bill include:
- A Passenger Watchdog will act as passengers’ champion. The watchdog will have powers to investigate poor service and demand improvements, as well as ensuring passengers have a clear and accessible service to escalate their complaints.
- Fare and Ticketing reform – passengers will be able to purchase tickets through a new GBR website and app, replacing 14 existing operator ticketing platforms. Tickets will be available to purchase at station ticket offices, via ticket vending machines and onboard trains. GBR will also build on the expansion of successful Pay As You Go and fares trials, making travel more flexible and simpler.
- Better business planning – Under GBR, freight operators will benefit from a duty to promote rail freight and a longer-term strategic approach to planning the railway through capacity allocation and timetabling. This longer-term certainty for businesses will give critical stability to the railway’s supply chain and increase investor confidence and support the growth of the sector, said the UK Government.
- Localised decision making – the Railways Bill will give the devolved governments and England’s mayors a new role and a bigger say in how the railway is run in their patch to improve local connectivity.
The UK Government has also published the Accessibility Roadmap, which provides immediate actions to improve services for disabled passengers in the lead up to GBR’s establishment.
Actions include expanded eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard, planning for wider rollout of Welcome Points across the network, more consistent training for staff, and improvements on installing and maintaining key infrastructure, like lifts and escalators so that people can travel with confidence.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
“The UK Government is investing a historic £445 million into Welsh rail to put right decades of underfunding and to unleash Wales’ economic potential. It will mean new stations, faster trains and more services, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales and helping to grow the economy.
“This legislation will help cement the changes we are bringing so Wales’ railways work better for passengers and communities.”
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said:
“I very much welcome the introduction of the UK Railways Bill which will improve rail services and deliver a more integrated, accountable, and passenger-focused railway across the UK.
“It is also a significant step forward in our collaborative approach to rail reform, and I am confident that our continued joint working with the UK Government will ensure the delivery of a modern, integrated railway that works for passengers in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said:
“An accessible, affordable and reliable rail network integrated with the wider transport system is key to delivering sustainable economic growth and improving regional productivity.
“Today marks another important step on the road to realising this vision and delivering a railway that works for passengers, freight operators and the country as a whole.
“We look forward to working with the Government, MPs and the rail industry over the coming months to make sure this Bill provides the right foundation for a reformed railway.”
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“Businesses welcome plans for a more joined up rail system which gives regions a stronger voice in shaping services.
“An efficient rail network is crucial to unlock opportunities for investment, jobs and growth across the country.
“Great British Rail must deliver the certainty and connectivity that businesses are desperate for – with the needs of passengers and freight customers central to future decision making.”
