The UK Transport Committee has launched its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill and is inviting experts to share their views on its proposals.
As reported by CiTTi Magazine earlier this week, the draft bill proposes legislation needed to deliver reforms included in the UK government’s Plan for Rail.
This includes giving Great British Railways (GBR) new legal powers to manage and oversee the country’s rail infrastructure and services.
During its pre-legislative scrutiny, the committee will examine the draft bill’s proposals and make recommendations to the government on how the bill might be improved.
Iain Stewart MP, chair of the Transport Committee, said: “The publication of the government’s draft Rail Reform Bill is an important step on the journey to improving Britain’s railways.
“Proposed reforms, like giving GBR oversight of Britain’s rail, have been broadly supported by many in the sector and can help give passengers and freight customers the certainty that they need.
“We will now examine whether the draft bill will pass muster in promoting positive change in the sector and see if it will allow for sufficient transparency and scrutiny of GBR once it is fully operational.
“My cross-party colleagues and I on the Transport Committee are looking forward to hearing the views of rail industry stakeholders on the draft Bill.
“We’re keen to get started on scrutinising it and hope to report on our conclusions ahead of Parliament’s summer recess.”
According to the committee, the inquiry relates to the scope of the draft bill, and not to issues relating to rail reform more generally.
Written evidence submissions can be made via the Transport Committee website.
Achievements and innovations in transport policy and leglisation will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations officially open in March 2024. Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
