Landmark legislation that will transform Britain’s railways is being introduced today (5 November), paving the way for a simpler, more reliable network which puts passengers before profits.
The Railways Bill, which will be laid in Parliament today, will create Great British Railways (GBR) – a new publicly owned company which will bring together passenger services and manage rail infrastructure – and move away from the failed privatised system which puts shareholders over passengers and outsources blame.
GBR will be accountable to the passengers, freight customers and taxpayers it serves and will drive a relentless focus on responding to their needs. Responsible for co-ordinating the whole network: from track and train, to cost and revenue – GBR will deliver lasting change.
GBR, which will be headquartered in Derby, will create a simpler, more unified railway that delivers easier and better value journeys. This will include a new one-stop-shop app where passengers can check train times and book tickets, as well as a strengthened passenger watchdog which will have powers to investigate poor service and demand improvements.
Rail reform is a cornerstone of the Government’s Plan for Change, with GBR working hand in hand with the Government’s missions to drive growth and opportunity, such as housebuilding, creating jobs and boosting productivity.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“Britain deserves a railway fit for the future. One that restores a lost sense of pride and rebuilds the trust of its passengers, with a relentless focus on their needs and the growth of their communities.
“The introduction of this landmark legislation today is a major step to delivering a railway that serves Britain’s public and businesses – paving the way for growth and opportunity across the country.”
Passengers are currently at the mercy of a complex rail system of over 17 different organisations, resulting in complex fares, delayed upgrades, disjointed timetables, and an industry with no single authority in charge.
The Railways Bill builds on the Government’s public ownership programme, with almost 50% of the rail passenger journeys that Great British Railways will ultimately be responsible for now operated by publicly owned companies.
Improvements are already being seen, with Southeastern and LNER among the top five operators nationally for lowest cancellation rates. South Western Railway has tripled the number of new trains in service since entering public ownership, offering more comfortable journeys, and passengers can now use tickets across publicly owned operators during cancellations – at no extra cost.
Major changes coming in through the Bill include:
- A Passenger Watchdog will act as passengers’ champion and create a better, more inclusive railway for all. The watchdog will have powers to investigate poor service and demand improvements, as well as ensuring passengers have a clear and accessible service to escalate their complaints.
- Fare and Ticketing reform– the Railways Bill will empower GBR to bring fares and ticketing into the 21st century. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets through a new GBR website and app, replacing 14 existing operator ticketing platforms. Tickets will be available to purchase at station ticket offices, via ticket vending machines and onboard trains, to ensure all passengers can purchase a ticket with ease and travel with confidence. GBR will also build on the expansion of successful Pay As You Go and fares trials, making travel more flexible and simpler.
- Better business planning– Under GBR, freight operators will benefit from a duty to promote rail freight and a longer-term strategic approach to planning the railway through capacity allocation and timetabling. This longer-term certainty for businesses will give critical stability to the railway’s supply chain and increase investor confidence and support the growth of the sector.
- Localised decision making– the Railways Bill will give the Devolved Governments and England’s mayors a new role and a bigger say in how the railway is run in their patch to improve local connectivity.
In a further move to improve services for all passengers, the Government has today published the Accessibility Roadmap, which provides immediate actions to improve services for disabled passengers in the lead up to GBR’s establishment.
Actions include expanded eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard, planning for wider rollout of Welcome Points across the network, more consistent training for staff, and improvements on installing and maintaining key infrastructure, like lifts and escalators so that people can travel with confidence.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
“The UK Government is investing a historic £445m into Welsh rail to put right decades of underfunding and to unleash Wales’ economic potential. It will mean new stations, faster trains and more services, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales and helping to grow the economy.
“This legislation will help cement the changes we are bringing so Wales’ railways work better for passengers and communities.”
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said:
“I very much welcome the introduction of the UK Railways Bill which will improve rail services and deliver a more integrated, accountable, and passenger-focused railway across the UK.
“It is also a significant step forward in our collaborative approach to rail reform, and I am confident that our continued joint working with the UK Government will ensure the delivery of a modern, integrated railway that works for passengers in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said:
“An accessible, affordable and reliable rail network integrated with the wider transport system is key to delivering sustainable economic growth and improving regional productivity.
“Today marks another important step on the road to realising this vision and delivering a railway that works for passengers, freight operators and the country as a whole.
“We look forward to working with the Government, MPs and the rail industry over the coming months to make sure this Bill provides the right foundation for a reformed railway.”
