Found: GBR will be set up after the legislative process on the forthcoming Railways Bill has concluded.

Found: We will be saying more about that around the introduction of the railways Bill.

Found: As outlined in the recent consultation on the forthcoming railways bill, there is potential to expand

Found: As outlined in the recent consultation on the forthcoming railways bill, there is potential to expand

Found: given to the Chair by Resolution of the Committee of 29 October 2025: Great British Railways and Railways Bill

Found: Q125 Catherine Atkinson: The Railways Bill consultation said that Great British Railways would enjoy

Found: Letter from the Minister for Rail, Department for Transport relating to Great British Railways and Railways Bill

Found: s Speech Great British Railways Rail infrastructure and operator (will include Network Rail) Railways Bill

Found: The government has recently launched a consultation on the Railways Bill ahead of introduction later

Found: The important thing about devolution in the forthcoming railways Bill is the additional inclusion of

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to establish Great British Railways, following the disbandment of the Great British Railways Transition Team in March 2025.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act was the first step towards fixing our railways, enabling the majority of services to be owned by and run for the public, but we need further fundamental reform to fix the underlying structural problems and put passengers and customers back at the heart of the railway.

Great British Railways (GBR) is set to be the ‘directing mind’ for the rail industry, bringing together the management of the network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body. A design programme for GBR is underway, which is jointly run by the Department for Transport, DfT Operator and Network Rail.

We anticipate that GBR is to be set up over the following 12 months after the Railways Bill receives Royal Assent. The Bill is expected to be introduced later in this session.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and her Department's document entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether she will bring forward legislative proposals for (a) Mayors to have a statutory role in (i) governing, (ii) managing and (iii) planning railways, and (b) an option for Mayors to control local railway stations and (c) the right for Mayors to request rail devolution.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

These subjects will be addressed in the Railways Bill, to be introduced later in this parliamentary session, and with accompanying guidance on the right to request. Guidance will outline the process for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities to make this request and the criteria that will be considered, such as national and regional network implications.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will define the term "directing mind" in relation to Great British Railways.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Railways Bill will set out Great British Railway's statutory functions, as the directing mind for the railway. In general terms Great British Railways (GBR) will manage cross-network planning and operations for current and future customer needs. With oversight by the Secretary of State and where necessary Scottish Ministers, GBR will make informed trade-offs between different uses of the railway, which is as crucial for the efficiency of freight operations as it is for passenger services.

Passengers and taxpayers expect a consistent service across the rail network, and the majority support the move to a publicly owned-rail network, as outlined in a YouGov survey from 2024.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to work with the devolved Administrations to increase transport connectivity between the four Home Nations.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

While transport is largely a devolved responsibility for the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Department for Transport is working with its counterparts to improve transport connectivity across the UK.

As recommended by the Union Connectivity Review, the UK government funded three rail feasibility studies in Northern Ireland looking at electrification, re-opening closed railway lines and improving access to airports. The UK Government also funded three studies focused on improving the North Wales Transport Corridor to completion and is funding Transport Scotland’s A75 feasibility study to explore options to bypass Springholm and Crocketford.

Separately, the UK Government subsidises flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow Airport through a Public Service Obligation.

This Government is establishing Great British Railways (GBR) which will be the ‘directing mind’ for the rail industry, bringing together the management of the network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body. GBR will work closely with the Devolved Governments where responsibilities are devolved and will provide the integrated and long-term thinking the rail sector needs to grow and support the UK economy. GBR will be established in early 2027, subject to the Railways Bill achieving Royal Assent.

We will continue to work, where appropriate, with the Devolved Governments to improve transport outcomes for all people of the UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Passenger Standards Authority.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The consultation on the Railways Bill closed on 15 April, and as part of this we sought views on the creation of a new passenger watchdog. We are currently considering the responses and the best way of establishing the Watchdog. This will include the consideration of costs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure improved integration between (a) bus and (b) rail services through the Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government knows that a modern, integrated public transport network is vital to providing access to services and opportunities for all users of the system and keeping communities connected. Later this year, the Department will publish its Integrated National Transport Strategy and set the long-term vision for transport in England, placing people at the heart of how transport is designed, built and operated. Although the Strategy is still in development, it will aim to create a transport system where people can easily, reliably and safely carry out the journeys they want to make, including those across multiple modes.

We are working to improve both bus and rail services to support greater integration between transport modes. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill will place power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders, and the Public Ownership Act and Railways Bill will ensure the railways are delivering once again for passengers across the country.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Department has to involve (a) passengers and (b) rail user groups in Wiltshire in the development of the proposed independent passenger watchdog.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The new Passenger Watchdog will be established alongside Great British Railways, enabled by the forthcoming Railways Bill. We recently consulted on our legislative proposals, including the watchdog, and we are currently reviewing the responses received. A Government response will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps Great British Rail plans to take to help improve (a) travel times, (b) punctuality and (c) passenger experience on the West of England line.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Services operated by South Western Railway, which operates the West of England line, will transfer into public ownership when their contract expires on 25 May 2025. Under public ownership, passenger services will be operated in the interests of passengers, not shareholders.

Bringing train operations into public ownership is the first step in the Government’s plans for wider rail reform. The Railways Bill will be introduced later this session, which will enable the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR). GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to deliver for passengers and freight customers.

Through these reforms we will deliver better quality services for passengers and freight customers, resulting in fewer delays and a timetable that better serves their needs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether appointments to the Passenger Standards Authority will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The public consultation on the railways bill closed in April 2025 and explored options for a new passenger watchdog. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a response in due course. As with any public body, the appropriate rules for appointments will be followed. We would therefore expect the new watchdog to be included on the Public Appointments Order in Council; and, for appointments to the board to be subject to the governance code on public appointments and regulated by the commissioner for public appointments.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of businesses utilising rail travel to the effectiveness of the rail network; and what steps she is taking to consult with business on her planned reforms to the rail sector.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We recognise that business travel is a significant reason for using the railways. Research just published has shown that 15 per cent of journeys on DfT-contracted rail passenger services were made for business travel.

On 18 February we launched the eight-week public consultation on the Railways Bill, which closes on 15 April. The proposals will put passengers back at the heart of our railways.

This consultation is very much the beginning of an ongoing process of engagement that will continue throughout the policy development and legislative process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether appointments to Great British Railways will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council; and whether the Chair will be classified as a Significant Appointment.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

After the Railways Bill is scrutinised by Parliament, and as part of the design of Great British Railways, we will consider whether to propose an amendment to the Public Bodies Order in Council. We expect that the GBR Chair will be classed as a significant appointment.

Parliament will have an opportunity to scrutinise GBR’s duties when the bill is taken through Parliament later this session.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to reduce private car ownership and improve the connectivity of public transport.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government recognises the importance of improving public transport to ensure that people have greater choice around how they travel and has recently confirmed its commitment to phasing out new cars that rely solely on internal combustion engines from 2030.

The Government have set out an ambitious programme of reform to help improve bus services and grow usage across the country. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill, introduced on 17 December, puts power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them. In the Autumn Budget, the Government also confirmed investment of over £1 billion to support and improve bus services and keep bus fares affordable.

The Government have also set out plans to create a unified and simplified railway that places train operations under public ownership and control, putting passengers first and rebuilding trust. The Railways Bill, which will be introduced later this session, will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation. Alongside this, the Prime Minister has announced more funding to deliver the largest rail investment in the North in decades.

As part of our commitment to local transport, we have uplifted City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding in 2025-26 by £200m, helping to improve the local transport in our largest city regions and drive growth and productivity across the country. This brings local transport spending for Metro Mayors in 2025-26 to £1.3bn. Also at the Autumn Budget, we allocated over £650m funding for local transport outside of our city regions to improve connectivity and support local growth in our smaller cities, towns, villages and rural areas in England outside London.

The Integrated National Transport Strategy will be published later this year and will focus on how transport should be designed, built, and operated to better serve the people who use it, connecting people to housing, jobs and public services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with disabled passenger groups about achieving independent travel for disabled travellers on all forms of public transport.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The government is committed to making transport more inclusive and accessible right across the country, so that it enables disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. Ministers are advised on accessible transport policy by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, whose membership is required to include at least 50% disabled people.

The Department for Transport also regularly meets with stakeholders to discuss a range of issues, including improving accessibility across the transport network. For example, the Department has engaged with organisations representing disabled passengers throughout the development of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill and the continuing consultation on the forthcoming Railways Bill, as well as through the engagement activities for the Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which body will have the directing role in confirming operational timetables exploiting released capacity.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department specifies the services it seeks to procure through its contracts with operators. Trains operate on very restricted infrastructure and timetables must be carefully planned to operate around other services. The scheduling service is conducted by Network Rail. Network Rail is held to account by the Office of Rail and Road.

The Railways Bill consultation proposes that in future Great British Railways will have consolidated accountability for planning the use of its rail network.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will add public interest duties to her Department’s open consultation entitled A railway fit for Britain's future, published on 18 February 2025.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The consultation is clear that Great British Railways (GBR) will run our rail infrastructure and passenger services in the public interest. The consultation has not specified GBR’s exact duties and functions, and we welcome views on these. All responses to the consultation will be considered ahead of introduction of the forthcoming Railways Bill.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ensure that Great British Railways has a statutory accessibility duty.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Accessibility is a priority for this Government and we are committed to delivering a rail system which allows disabled people to travel easily, confidently and with dignity. The ongoing Railways Bill consultation is already clear that accessibility will be central to Great British Railways.

GBR will therefore be subject to requirements – either licence conditions

or statutory duties – to ensure this happens. That includes requirements relating to accessibility and engaging accessibility stakeholders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the new Great British Railways ticketing system will automatically identify the cheapest combination of fares for each journey.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Once Great British Railways is established, it will retail online by consolidating individual train operators’ ticket websites. It will work alongside a thriving private sector retail market, which will continue to play a key role in driving innovation and investment and encouraging more people to choose rail.

The Railways Bill consultation, which launched on 18 February, will help us develop more detailed plans for GBR’s retail offer. We are consulting closely with industry, the private sector, and wider stakeholders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Network Rail’s debt will move to the balance sheet of Great British Railways.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The public consultation for the government’s upcoming Railways Bill was launched in February. This consultation sets out our proposals for the most comprehensive reform of Britain’s railways in 30 years.

This included the plan to establish Great British Railways (GBR) as the directing mind in charge of Britain’s railway, bringing responsibility for train services and rail infrastructure together into one integrated organisation.

GBR will accordingly be designed in an appropriate manner so that it can efficiently and effectively carry out its intended functions. The future of Network Rail’s legacy debt will be considered as part of the detailed design process.

We feel that the Welsh rail network is treated as second class compared to England. The nation has 11% of the entire UK's rail network, has 5% of the UK's population but receives just 1% of rail infrastructure funding.

Found: The UK government could use the Railways Bill this year to create a mechanism to guarantee fair funding

Found: that make up the rail industry via the Railways Bill.

Found: overhaul of the fundamental rules, structures, and bodies that make up the rail industry via the Railways Bill

Found: that make up the rail industry via the Railways Bill.

Found: overhaul of the fundamental rules, structures, and bodies that make up the rail industry via the Railways Bill

Found: td class="govuk-table__cell">A meeting to explain the proposed approach to accessibility in the Railways Bill

Found: >To discuss 2025 pay Network Rail East Midlands Railway East West Rail Method of operation Railways Bill

Found: The Railways Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year, will enable the establishment

Found: In February, the government’s consultation on the Railways Bill outlined plans to establish GBR, which

Found: reform — establishing Shadow Great British Railways and launching a consultation on the upcoming Railways Bill

Found: Establishing Great British Railways In February 2025, the government’s consultation on the Railways Bill

Found: overhaul of the fundamental rules, structures, and bodies that make up the rail industry via the Railways Bill

Found: overhaul of the fundamental rules, structures, and bodies that make up the rail industry via the Railways Bill

Found: The Railways Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year, will enable the establishment

Found: The UK government has set out its plans to establish Great British Railways (GBR) through the Railways Bill

Found: In February, the government’s consultation on the Railways Bill outlined plans to establish GBR, which

Found: The CMA responded to the consultation on proposed policies to be included in the forthcoming Railways Bill

Found: including terms and conditions, and to co-create the design of GBR ahead of implementation of the Railways Bill

Found: including terms and conditions, and to co-create the design of GBR ahead of implementation of the Railways Bill

Found: including terms and conditions, and to co-create the design of GBR ahead of implementation of the Railways Bill

Found: The UK government has set out its plans to establish Great British Railways (GBR) through the Railways Bill

Found: Establishing Great British Railways In February 2025, the government’s consultation on the Railways Bill

Found: Road and Rail, including streamlining its duties, as part of the Government's response to the Railways Bill