UK ministers have met to outline the Rail Reform Bill, a notion that aims to structure the future of British rail developments.
Building on the UK government’s 2019 manifesto, where it committed to a rail reform programme to streamline British rail systems, the bill seeks to unify railway management systems across Britain to enhance services.
The bill’s major points are as follows:
- Establishment of Great British Rail (GBR), a planned state-owned public body that will oversee rail transport in Great Britain.
- The secretary of state for transport’s franchising authority functions will be transferred to GBR, coordinating infrastructure projects.
- The new body will serve as a single point of accountability for the performance of the railway where previously it was split between Network Rail and the secretary of state.
- GBR’s regional structure is intended to ensure differing regional customer needs are part of decision-making.
- GBR will contract with the private sector to maximise investment and innovation throughout the sector.
- There will be a concerted focus on increasing freight transport to improve efficiency and growth opportunities.
- Improvements to transport accessibility options to provide improved access to disabled passengers.
GBR’s national headquarters will be in Derby, a centralised location chosen after months of UK government planning.
GBR will also be tasked with driving the UK’s rail freight sector, where the government recently set a growth target of 75% by 2050.
In 2021, the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) was set up in anticipation of the creation of the GBR and will support collaboration between Network Rail, the UK Department for Transport and the private sector to help tackle challenges faced by railways.
GBRTT lead and CEO of Network Rail, Andrew Haines, said: “Passengers, freight customers and communities are crying out for a simpler, better railway and the publication of the draft bill is an important step on that journey.
“Bringing track and train together under a guiding mind is by far the best way to improve the service the railway offers, unlock the economic potential of a growing network and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”
The news follows a range of initiatives aimed at improving rail travel, including Network North improvements and tap-in tap-out train travel at more than 90 stations in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester next year.
The bill applies mainly to Great Britain, with Scottish and Welsh ministers continuing to exercise existing devolved responsibilities, but with an option to delegate contracting authority to GBR to enable the integration of track and train across Great Britain if they wished to pursue it.
UK transport secretary Mark Harper said: “It’s been nearly 200 years since the birth of the British railways and with travel patterns having significantly changed over the last few years, it is now more important than ever that they keep up with the changing times.
“This draft bill demonstrates our commitment to reforming the railways – working with industry, we will move towards a more modern and financially secure rail network that delivers for passengers for the next 200 years, too.”
Achievements and innovations in transport planning 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.
