22
Rail reform savings largely met, but workforce reforms proved challenging to deliver.
Conclusion
The Department agreed with HM Treasury that it would deliver £2.6 billion in savings from rail reform by 2024–25, with most savings expected to come from workforce reform plans including modernising ways of working within train stations, improving control and deployment of drivers, and reductions in staff numbers.47 The Department recognised achieving workforce reforms was particularly high risk as they would be subject to negotiations with trade unions.48 The Department told us that it has achieved savings of £2 billion but some elements of workforce reform have been challenging to deliver.49
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 11 July 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Thirty-Eighth Report - Rail reform: The rail transformation programme
27 May 2024
HC 652
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
2.3 yrs
Report published
27 May 2024