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Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Eleventh sitting)

"Amendment is 211 is mine, and we would like to press it to a vote. [Interruption.] Oh, no, that is also a Liberal Democrat amendment—that says “Opp” as well...."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Eleventh sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Eleventh sitting)

"Clause 61(1) sets out that GBR must issue one or more timetables covering all train movements on GBR infrastructure for the period that GBR intends the timetable to cover, to be known as a working timetable. Subsection (3) allows GBR to alter a working timetable, for example to add new …..."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Eleventh sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Hobhouse. There is not much to say, except that the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage raised a question about our amendments and what he called phantom paths. I think he may have been referring to ghost trains, as opposed …..."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"I thank the Minister for that. Yes, absolutely; I believe our amendments are much more about the infrastructure that GBR has responsibility for and about operators not having to pay if they are un able to operate their services. A natural disaster is probably a bit too extreme, but if, …..."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"Amendment 254 is good in so far as it goes in relation to rail freight, but other rail operators also provide public benefit and should receive a similar level of protection. The Opposition are happy to support the amendment, but we do not think it goes nearly far enough.

Amendment …..."

Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"Clause 65 requires GBR to provide and publish a performance scheme that is designed to incentivise GBR, its subsidiaries or other train operators to minimise disruption or delay to other train services or the network. Train operators may be required to pay penalties if they cause disruption, may receive compensation …..."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"I beg to move amendment 85, in clause 65, page 37, line 15, leave out subsection (3)(b).

This amendment would enable GBR to have to pay penalties or compensation...."

Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"Does the hon. Member not think our amendments could actually improve the system for GBR? We have talked, in this Committee and in the Select Committee sessions on the Bill, about the real gap in terms of the incentives for GBR to improve its services and improve itself. There is …..."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"To build on the point that my right hon. Friend the Member for Melton and Syston made, clause 65(3)(b) says that compensation may not be paid by Great British Railways

“in relation to any disruption that is outside its control.”

It strikes me that that relates to what the hon. …..."

Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)

"Clause 66 sets out who GBR must consult before issuing, revising or replacing the access and use policy under clause 59. The ORR and the Scottish and Welsh Ministers must be consulted as well as other persons GBR considers appropriate. Subsection (2) requires GBR to consult the persons it considers …..."
Rebecca Smith - View Speech

View all Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) contributions to the debate on: Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting)