Railways Bill

What this bill does

Currently at Committee stage in the Lords.

Creates Great British Railways to run Britain’s railways.

This bill would set up Great British Railways as the main public body for rail infrastructure and many passenger services in Great Britain. It changes how rail services are planned, funded, charged for, and overseen, while keeping separate arrangements for Scotland and Wales. The latest version also strengthens passenger support, access rules, local consultation, and the role of the rail regulator.

• Allow the Secretary of State to designate a body corporate as Great British Railways and give it major responsibilities for rail infrastructure and passenger services.
• Set out GBR’s functions, including managing infrastructure, providing passenger services, setting fares, selling tickets, and supporting research and innovation.
• Let the Secretary of State, Scottish Ministers and Welsh Ministers issue directions and guidance to GBR, and require GBR to have regard to certain strategies and plans.
• Create duties for GBR and the ORR to consider users, disabled people, freight, service performance, public funds, safety, and the public interest.
• Require the Secretary of State to publish a rail strategy and a rail freight target.
• Set up new arrangements for passenger services, including designation of services, direct awards of public service contracts, and discounted fares for young, elderly and disabled people.
• Create and expand the role of the Passengers’ Council and the London Transport Users’ Committee in complaints, investigations, standards, dispute resolution, advice and information.
• Set new rules for access to GBR infrastructure, timetables, charging, performance, and appeals to the ORR.
• Change the ORR’s role so it monitors GBR, issues information, and handles appeals and certain disputes.
• Provide for funding processes for GBR by the Secretary of State and devolved ministers, including business plans and financial assistance.
• Allow transfer schemes for property, rights, liabilities and staff, and make related amendments across existing rail, transport and equality laws.
• Provide powers to make regulations about train driver licensing and international railway rolling stock interests.
• Amend many existing Acts and regulations to fit the new railway system.

The stage line is the same Parliament bill record as the heading. The summary is AI-generated and not independently reviewed. Report an error.

Progress

1. 1st reading · Commons
2. 2nd reading · Commons
3. Programme motion · Commons
4. Money resolution · Commons
5. Carry-over motion · Commons
6. Committee stage · Commons
7. Bill reintroduced · Commons
8. Ways and Means resolution · Commons
9. Report stage · Commons
10. 3rd reading · Commons
11. 1st reading · Lords
12. 2nd reading · Lords
13. Committee stage · Lords