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

Found: stand ready to respond to the new UK Government’s promised consultation in preparation for the Railways Bill

Found: should be either included in the rolling stock strategy or in primary legislation in the upcoming Railways Bill

Found: The Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation.

Found: the Passenger Standards Authority, which will also be created, at least for the railway, by the railways Bill

Found: Louise Haigh: We will be going out to consultation very shortly on the railways Bill that we hope to

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed rail reforms on commuter services from Bletchley.

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

The Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation. It will create stronger leadership by establishing Great British Railways as a new ‘directing mind’ for the industry, unifying track and train under a single public body to deliver better services for passengers and customers, and better value for money for taxpayers.

The Government launched an eight-week consultation on 18 February seeking views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill.

Services from Bletchley will benefit from the changes set out above, alongside the rest of the network.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what guidance she plans to issue to combined authority mayors on ensuring (a) clear accountability for the implementation of new devolved transport powers and (b) that regional transport planning (i) aligns with the work of Great British Rail and (ii) helps to deliver a cohesive national rail strategy.

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

The English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol set out the accountability requirements for all Combined Authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s commitment to work with the sector to explore a number of measures to enhance local scrutiny and accountability.

Where a Mayoral Combined Authority is in receipt of an integrated funding settlement, this will be underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding, available at Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities - GOV.UK, and an individual outcomes framework for delivery, to be agreed with government.

For the transport measures that require implementation guidance, this is being developed and will be published in due course. Devolved leaders in Mayoral Combined Authorities will have a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network. GBR will be organised to work collaboratively with mayors and local stakeholders, ensuring rail better meets local needs. Supporting this, GBR will agree partnerships with mayors, demonstrating a change in how the railway engages locally.

Local influence and control will need to be balanced with Great British Railways (GBR) taking decisions in the interest of the wider regional and national network in line with the Long-Term Rail Strategy that will be put in place.

On 18^th February we launched the 8-week public consultation into the Government’s proposals for the Railways Bill. This consultation seeks views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill and make that vision a reality.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's White Paper, English Devolution, published on 16 December 2024, when she will publish guidance on the (a) powers and (b) implementation accountability of Metro Mayors on transport; and how Metro Mayors' powers will align with Great British Railways' (a) role and (b) responsibility to deliver a national rail strategy.

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

The English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol set out the accountability requirements for all Combined Authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s commitment to work with the sector to explore a number of measures to enhance local scrutiny and accountability.

Where a Mayoral Combined Authority is in receipt of an integrated funding settlement, this will be underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding, available at Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities - GOV.UK, and an individual outcomes framework for delivery, to be agreed with government.

For the transport measures that require implementation guidance, this is being developed and will be published in due course. Devolved leaders in Mayoral Combined Authorities will have a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network. GBR will be organised to work collaboratively with mayors and local stakeholders, ensuring rail better meets local needs. Supporting this, GBR will agree partnerships with mayors, demonstrating a change in how the railway engages locally.

Local influence and control will need to be balanced with Great British Railways (GBR) taking decisions in the interest of the wider regional and national network in line with the Long-Term Rail Strategy that will be put in place. Further detail is outlined in an 8-week public consultation into the Government’s proposals for the Railways Bill, published on 18^th February. This consultation seeks views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill and make that vision a reality.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the proposed statutory powers of Metro Mayors for rail services will operate under Great British Railways.

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

The statutory role for mayors in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network intends to bring decision making within Great British Railways as close as possible to local communities. This will empower local leaders and support the development of seamless, integrated transport networks and a public transport system that properly serves local areas.

Further detail will be outlined in an upcoming consultation on the Railways Bill, which will be published soon.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24061 on Rolling Stock, whether the Rolling Stock Strategy will include branch lines.

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

The Government is committed to ending years of poor service and fragmentation on the railways, by creating a unified and simplified system through public ownership of train operations and by establishing Great British Railways (GBR).

The forthcoming Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation. It will create stronger leadership by establishing GBR as a new ‘directing mind’ for the industry, bringing together the management of the rail network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body.

GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system effectively on a long-term basis, driving up performance and reliability.

The Government is working at pace to develop the framework for a rolling stock strategy which will include considerations around the timelines for new build, refurbishments, and potential cascades. Once established, GBR will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs across the entire network including branch lines.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24061 on Rolling Stock, whether new builds will ensure sufficient capacity is procured in the future for the Henley Branch Line to cover moments of peak demand.

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

The Government is committed to ending years of poor service and fragmentation on the railways, by creating a unified and simplified system through public ownership of train operations and by establishing Great British Railways (GBR).

The forthcoming Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation. It will create stronger leadership by establishing GBR as a new ‘directing mind’ for the industry, bringing together the management of the rail network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body.

GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system effectively on a long-term basis, driving up performance and reliability.

The Government is working at pace to develop the framework for a rolling stock strategy which will include considerations around the timelines for new build, refurbishments, and potential cascades. Once established, GBR will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs across the entire network including branch lines.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the new government-backed train ticket website will include a search facility to help people affected by train delays find actual past (a) departure and (b) arrival times to support their claims under the Delay Repay scheme.

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.

Exact plans will now be developed in close partnership with industry, the private sector and wider stakeholders, with further detail to be consulted on shortly as part of the Railways Bill consultation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her timeline is for the establishment of Great British Railways; and what key milestones she expects to reach in the next 12 months.

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

The King’s Speech confirmed legislation – the Railways Bill – will be introduced to create Great British Railways in the first Parliamentary session. The consultation on this legislation will be published around the turn of the year. We anticipate GBR to be set up over the following 12 months after the legislation receives Royal Assent.

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: Kings Cross Railways Bill – Petitions of Patrick Roper and 13 others – 10 petitions disallowed [session

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: railway 8 Six clear objectives 9 The need for reform 10 Our plan for change 12 Paving the way: A new Railways Bill

Found: We are seeking views on new policies to be included in the forthcoming Railways Bill, which will enable

Found: 7 Six clear objectives 7 The need for reform 8 Our plan for change 9 Paving the way: A new Railways Bill

Found: 7 Six clear objectives 7 The need for reform 8 Our plan for change 9 Paving the way: A new Railways Bill

Found: On Tuesday 18 February, I launched the public consultation for the government’s upcoming Railways Bill

Found: This will lay the groundwork for the introduction of the Railways Bill later this session, which will

Found: The Railways Bill will enable the biggest overhaul of the rail sector in a generation.