THE British government introduced a bill to Parliament on November 5 that will result in the creation of publicly-owned company Great British Railways (GBR). The legislation was promised by the Labour government when it came to power in July 2024 and was expected in the current session of Parliament.
The Railways Bill is designed to reunite infrastructure management with passenger operations under the command of what the Department for Transport (DfT) describes as “a single directing mind” for railways. Responsible for co-ordinating the whole network, from track and train, to cost and revenue, GBR will bring significant change to the British railway system.
According to the government, key benefits of the bill include: a strengthened passenger watchdog, fare and ticketing reform, better business planning, including growing rail freight and increased localised decision making.
“The introduction of this legislation is a major step towards a rail network that supports Britain’s businesses and delivers for the travelling public - paving the way for economic growth and access to opportunity across the country,” says transport secretary, Heidi Alexander.
The Railways Bill will now undergo usual parliamentary scrutiny, ahead of the legislation becoming law, allowing the creation of GBR, with this not expected to happen until next year at the earliest.
Industry response
There has been a cautious welcome to the bill's introduction from the British rail sector. “The success of Great British Railways will depend on achieving a balance between national coordination and local responsiveness, while preserving opportunities for innovation and competition,” says Anna-jane Hunter, chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK, CILT (UK).
“There should also be a strong focus on balancing the needs of both freight customers and passengers, ensuring that each group is consulted, treated fairly, and well supported,” Hunter adds. “This balance will help ensure that freight capacity and investment decisions fully reflect the growing demand for sustainable logistics.”
