Mentions:
1: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Con - Life peer) Key large-scale infrastructure projects are generally, if not universally, to be encouraged. - Speech Link
2: Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab - Life peer) , published last year:“The railways’ capabilities are manifest when the management of the railways is - Speech Link
3: Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) On the railways, it is interesting. - Speech Link
4: Lord Whitty (Lab - Life peer) ; obviously it needs to be broader than infrastructure, but infrastructure is where it starts.We need - Speech Link
5: Baroness Randerson (LD - Life peer) Wherever we look, our transport infrastructure is failing. - Speech Link
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to increase public awareness of the potential impact of changes in the (a) responsibilities and (b) role of Great British Rail on journey times.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is reforming the railways to ensure they are fit for the 21st century. Central to this is the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR).
The legislation needed to establish Great British Railways is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny and we have published the Government’s response to the legislation consultation.
Once established, GBR will bring infrastructure, operations and strategic finance decisions together, better addressing customers whilst delivering a simpler and better railway.
In advance of legislation to establish GBR, we have reorganised DfT, creating an integrated Rail Services Group, bringing together most of Passenger Services and Rail Infrastructure Group, focussed on the day-to-day operational performance of the railway. This is part of paving the way to an integrated rail body which will put customers at the heart of decision-making.
Ministers regularly speak about rail reform and ahead of the creation of GBR, the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) has been created to lay the foundations for GBR while also promoting the benefits of rail reform including through the Great British Rail Sale initiative. The second Great British Rail Sale generated around £4.9m in savings for passengers, according to industry estimates, with around 580,000 tickets sold.
Mentions:
1: Mark Harper (Con - Forest of Dean) I have deposited copies of both of these documents in the Libraries of both Houses.The railways are a - Speech Link
Mar. 08 2024
Source Page: I. Rail Reform Bill: delegated powers memorandum. 26p. II. Rail Reform Bill: explanatory notes. Incl. annex. 27p. III. Plan for Rail. Impact Assessment supporting the draft Rail Reform Bill. Incl. annexes. 123p. IV. Letter dated 26/02/2024 from Huw Merriman MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding 3 documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.Found: (Scotland) and the ownership of devolved infrastructure (Wales).
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Committee: Transport Committee (Department: Department for Transport)Found: regarding rail, notably as franchising authority for Scottish rail passenger franchises since the Railways
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help support Great British Railways to reduce rail journey times.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is reforming the railways to ensure they are fit for the 21st century. Central to this is the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR).
The Draft Rail Reform Bill, which is needed to establish GBR, is undergoing pre legislative scrutiny. Alongside this, we are delivering for passengers, freight customers and taxpayers now, for example simplifying ticketing and fares and introducing the Rail Freight Growth Target.
Once established, GBR will bring infrastructure, operations and strategic finance decisions together, better addressing customers’ needs whilst delivering a simpler and better railway.
Feb. 20 2024
Source Page: Draft Rail Reform BillFound: (Scotland) and the ownership of devolved infrastructure (Wales).
Mar. 07 2024
Source Page: I. The Plan for Rail. A consultation on legislation to implement rail transformation: Government response. 106p. II. Draft Rail Reform Bill. 32p.Found: and set out Great British Railways' functions including that of infrastructure manager.
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Committee: Transport Committee (Department: Department for Transport)Found: aspects of rail reform and my evidence is presented in a personal capacity. 1.3 I have worked with railways
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Committee: Transport Committee (Department: Department for Transport)Found: The essential functions of infrastructure management and franchising continue to derive primarily