The Department has failed to engage with the workforce to successfully deliver its reform ambitions. Good policymaking relies on effective stakeholder engagement. The Williams Rail Review involved extensive consultation with trade unions and workers across the railway to understand their perspectives. However, while the Department expects to implement significant reforms through the workforce, officials have had little engagement with the workforce on rail reform. The absence of such engagement means that the Department risks not having a full understanding of the challenges and practical realities faced by the staff on the ground responsible for implementing the reforms. Network Rail notes that it improved productivity through engaging with its workforce, reaching agreement on modernisation measures and changes in terms and conditions, saving around £775 million. Recommendation 6: The Department should meaningfully engage with the workforce in order to implement its reforms successfully. In its Treasury Minute response it should set out how it plans to engage with the workforce as part of implementing its reforms. 8 Rail reform: The rail transformation programme 1 Implementing rail reform