Railways Bill

Transport Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 5 Nov 2025 Parliament page
The Government has introduced the Railways Bill to Parliament to legislate for its commitment to unify network operations with infrastructure management under a single organisation – Great British Railways. The Bill is expected to go through ‘line by line’ scrutiny by a Public Bill Committee, which is separate to the … Read more
22 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
5 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
24 Apr
2026
Report published
10 Feb
2026
Report published
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
7 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
7 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
17 Dec
2025
Oral evidence
17 Dec
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
10 Dec
2025
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
4 Dec
2025
Correspondence
26 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
26 Nov
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
7 Jan 2026
View on parliament.uk
Jeremy Westlake · Network Rail Lucy Ryan · Department for Transport Richard Goodman · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities The Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE · Department for Transport
17 Dec 2025
View on parliament.uk
Bill Reeve · Transport Scotland Fiona Hyslop MSP · The Scottish Government Jamie Ross · Liverpool City Region Jason Prince · Urban Transport Group Mal Drury-Rose · West Midlands Rail Executive Peter McDonald · The Welsh Government
10 Dec 2025
View on parliament.uk
Alex Campbell · Transport Focus Alex Robertson · Transport Focus Anthony Smith · Independent Rail Retailers Ben Plowden · Campaign for Better Transport David Pitt · SilverRail Technologies UK Ltd Emma Vogelmann · Transport for All John Davies · Trainline Sue Sharp · Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
26 Nov 2025
View on parliament.uk
John Larkinson · Office of Rail and Road Maggie Simpson OBE · Rail Freight Group Nick Brooks · AllRail Stephanie Tobyn · Office of Rail and Road Steve Montgomery · FirstRail
Title HC No. Published Items Response
8th Report - Railways Bill HC 1472 10 Feb 2026 33 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
16 Recommendation Rejected
8th Report - Railways Bill
Amend Bill to require Secretary of State to set a passenger journey growth target.
The Bill should be amended to include a duty on the Secretary of State to set a passenger journey growth target similar to the duty to set a freight growth target in clause 17. A target would incentivise commercially-minded improvements … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to include a duty on the Secretary of State to set a passenger journey growth target, arguing that GBR's existing duties already address this and will enable sensible decisions to target passenger growth across the network.
Department for Transport
View details
18 Conclusion Rejected
8th Report - Railways Bill
Passengers' Council reliance on ORR for enforcement adds complexity to complaints system.
The reliance of the Passengers’ Council on the Office of Rail and Road to take enforcement action could add complexity and delay to an already complicated system for complaints, enforcement and remedies, and we are concerned that an opportunity to … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with amending the Bill to require ORR to take action on referrals from the Passengers' Council, stating there's already a robust appeal route to the ORR and that the ORR needs a holistic view.
Department for Transport
View details
19 Recommendation Rejected
8th Report - Railways Bill
Amend Bill to require ORR to act on Passengers' Council referrals within a timeframe.
The Passengers’ Council will be required by the Bill to protect passengers’ rights through monitoring operators’ compliance with its standards and receiving, considering and investigating complaints. It must be trusted to carry out that role. We consider it unlikely in … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with amending the Bill to mandate GBR to enter into arrangements with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs), stating that enabling arrangements provides flexibility and that legislation is not needed to ensure engagement with local leaders.
Department for Transport
View details
27 Conclusion Rejected
8th Report - Railways Bill
Rail freight growth requires stronger incentives and greater certainty within the Bill.
We welcome the requirement in clause 17 for the Secretary of State to set a target to increase freight on the railways and the duty in clause 18(2)b. We note that the Government is aware of the risk that GBR … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees that the Bill needs amending to clarify the relationship between clause 60 and clause 63 and will instead provide additional clarity to reassure stakeholders.
Department for Transport
View details
30 Recommendation Rejected
8th Report - Railways Bill
Amend the Bill to allow freight operators broader appeal grounds for access decisions.
While the role of open access passenger services is a matter for debate, we note that it is the Government’s clear intention to promote greater freight use of the railway. The appeal mechanism for open access decisions set out in … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with amending the Bill to give freight operators the ability to appeal access decisions to the Office of Rail and Road, stating that there is already a robust route of appeal to the ORR within the Bill and the ORR applying judicial review principles when it determines appeals is deliberate and essential.
Department for Transport
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 33 of 22 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 14
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 5
Total 22 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
28 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rail, Department for Transport relating to the Railways Bill, dated 21 January 2026
Parliament page
4 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Welsh Government relating to the Railways Bill, dated 26 November 2025
Parliament page
26 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Leader of the House relating to the passage and scrutiny of the Railways Bill, dated 11 November 2025
Parliament page
12 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Transport relating to the introduction of the Railways Bill, dated 5 November 2025
Parliament page
30 Oct 2025 To committee Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Leader of the House relating to the Rail Reform Bill, dated 28 October 2025
Parliament page