Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the nations and regions of Great Britain will be reflected in the governance structure of Great British Railways.

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

The Railways Bill will include a statutory role for devolved governments and Mayoral Strategic Authorities in governing, planning, managing, and developing the railway under Great British Railways (GBR). We have had continuous proactive and productive engagement with Scottish and Welsh Government Officials and Ministers throughout the Bills development. This engagement will ensure that the Devolved Governments are represented within Great British Railways governance.

Great British Railways (GBR) will work collaboratively with devolved leaders and local stakeholders to ensure rail services meet local needs. Empowered local GBR business units will engage with devolved and local authorities on their priorities and strategies.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisation is leading strategy for the transfer from (a) the privately owned train operating companies to the Department for Transport Operator (DfTO) and (b) from DfTO to Great British Railways.

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

The Public Ownership Programme Directorate has been established in the Department to oversee and manage the transfer of passenger services from private ownership into public ownership.

DfT is the lead Government Department for the rail sector transformation programme which includes the creation of Great British Railways and the coming together of more than 17 existing organisations – including Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group, DFTO, parts of DfT, and 14 separate Train Operating Companies – into a single organisation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what mechanism the DfT Operator Limited and Network Rail will be brought into Great British Railways.

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

GBR will integrate track and train and bring together activities from more than 17 existing organisations – including Network Rail and DFTO. To avoid delay resulting from highly complex transfers of assets, people and contracts that would otherwise be required during implementation, GBR will be created out of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the (a) Southeastern and Network Rail Alliance and (b) proposed Anglia Railways will be integrated into Great British Railways.

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

The Southeastern alliance and Anglia Railways will trailblaze what an integrated railway can do. Integrating track and train at a local level is at the heart of the vision for GBR.

GBR will integrate track and train and bring together activities from more than 17 existing organisations – including Network Rail and the DFTO into a single organisation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with trade unions on the formation of Anglia Railways.

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

The Department and our industry partners, Network Rail and DFT Operator, have regular discussions with trade unions on a range of topics, including rail reform, of which integrated management arrangements are one part. The formation of integrated management arrangements across track and train, such as South Eastern Railway already established, is led by Network Rail and DFT Operator.

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