MPs Seek Clarity on Rail Reforms and Political Control of Great British Railways

Members of Parliament have called on the UK Government to provide clearer details on its rail reform plans and to limit the risk of political micromanagement under the proposed Great British Railways (GBR) body.

The House of Commons Transport Committee has published two reports following its inquiries into the Railways Bill and rail investment pipelines. Together, they examine how the new rail structure would operate and how future funding decisions could affect the industry.

In its report on the Railways Bill, the Committee says the legislation sets out only part of the framework for the new system under GBR. It notes that several policies, processes and operational decisions have yet to be published, with no firm timetable for when they will appear.

MPs say this approach follows a pattern seen in previous rail legislation, but argue that further detail is needed before the Bill reaches its Report Stage in the Commons. They highlight the absence of a draft operating licence for GBR, which is expected to define its scope and responsibilities.

The Committee recommends that the Department for Transport publish a schedule of outstanding decisions, documents and consultations, with target dates covering the period leading up to the launch of GBR and its first year in operation.

The report also raises concerns about the balance of power between the Secretary of State and GBR. MPs suggest amendments to the Bill to address what they describe as a potential tension between ministerial control and the expectation that GBR will function as an arm’s-length body. They say the legislation should better define GBR’s independence to reduce the risk of day-to-day political intervention.

Among other recommendations, the Committee proposes adding a legal duty for the Secretary of State to set a target for passenger journey growth. The report links increased passenger numbers to wider government aims on economic growth, connectivity and decarbonisation, and states that such a target would align with the stated purpose of GBR.

A separate report on rail investment pipelines points to repeated cycles of fluctuating spending, which MPs say have created uncertainty for suppliers and contractors. The Committee states that a more stable funding approach could support planning and delivery across the sector.

The report says the creation of GBR offers a chance to change how rail investment is managed but adds that this would depend on how much operational autonomy the new body is given. It identifies the proposed Long Term Rail Strategy and a rolling stock strategy as important elements in providing clearer direction for future projects.

Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury said:

The Railways Bill should usher in much-needed structural change for our railways, but we still need to know more about the route it will take and when its component parts will be coming down the track.

In our scrutiny of the Railways Bill, the Transport Committee has identified a host of key documents that are yet to be published, and we don’t yet know when they will emerge. On top of this, we found a lack of clarity over how Great British Railways will operate as an arm's-length body that is free from political interference and micromanagement by future secretaries of state.

The Committee was also surprised to see that the Bill does not have a target for increasing passenger journeys, which is surely fundamental to the purpose of Great British Railways.

The Government should take steps to reassure both Parliament and the industry of movement on all these fronts.

What is clear is that we must get past the damaging 'boom and bust' cycles outlined in our report about the pipeline of rail investment, with a radical new approach to certainty of spending on the railways. The advent of Great British Railways is a golden opportunity to get this moving, and the Committee looks forward to hearing more about the Government’s plans to reach its destination.