Great British Railways: Consultation on Legislation to Implement Rail Transformation

[KenA]

Reading the trade press the greatest fear all along has been that GBR would never be allowed the same autonomy that BR had to run the railway, but essentially civil servants would remain in charge as they are now. It seems that fear is to be realised, unsurprisingly.

One of the problems the railway have is o many lines weekend working is voluntary hic is just crazy. Railways are a 24/7 operation and employment contracts should reflect that

 

[DerekC]

I am not sure this is the right thread - maybe the OP could make it cover progress with GBR legislation generally. Anyhow: it appears that the creation of the GBR legal entity will be delayed. What practical effect is this likely to have?

It’s official: Great British Railways will be delayed​

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Related​

• Great British Railways set to be delayed

Transport secretary Ann-Marie Trevelyan has confirmed that legislation to create Great British Railways will be postponed at least until next year.
She was answering questions from members of the Commons Transport Select Committee, and refused to be drawn on a revised timetable.
The Committee was also told that it is possible for GBR to start playing a part in running the railway even before a Transport Act has been passed. For example, GBR could recommend a choice of operator for a contract, leaving the Department for Transport to carry out the legal formalities.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan told the MPs on the Committee: ‘The challenges of the energy legislation we have got to bring in, and various others, have meant we have lost the opportunity to have [a major Transport Bill] in this session. What we are continuing to pitch for would be what I would call a “narrow” Bill, around legislation about such things as e-scooters.’
She was later asked by MP Chris Loder if it was still her intention to create GBR. She responded: ‘What I want to do is fully implement the modernisation, so that we have got something that’s genuinely fit for purpose. The passenger and the freight provider are at the heart of the service we want to be providing.’
Department for Transport permanent secretary Bernadette Kelly confirmed that without the full legislation, it would not be possible for GBR to take over by 2024.
Andy Bagnall is chief executive of Rail Partners, which now represents operators. He said ‘It is disappointing the legislation to create Great British Railways will be delayed, but we look forward to working with the secretary of state, rail minister and Great British Railways Transition Team’s leadership to progress reform in its absence.
‘It is critical there is not a long hiatus and there are immediate steps that can be taken now, such as switching on revenue incentives in National Rail Contracts and feeding back to the market on passenger service contracts development, which can accelerate growth and underpin a reinvigorated public-private partnership.’
Railway Industry Association chief executive Darren Caplan said he was concerned about the effects on the supply chain: ‘It’s disappointing to learn that the Transport Bill is being postponed. As the Government itself has said, the railway needs a clear strategic direction and GBR was to be the mechanism to deliver this.’
He continued: ‘For the rail supply sector there is now a real concern that this delay will lead to a hiatus in work, hitting confidence and certainty in what are already difficult economic circumstances. And this adds to the lack of clarity rail suppliers are already feeling, given there is also uncertainty over long-term funding, enhancement schemes and major rail projects too.
‘Even with this delay, we urge the Government, Network Rail, other rail clients, and the rail supply sector not to wait for legislation but to work together.’

https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2022/10/19-its-official-great-british-railways.html

 

[XAM2175]

A new thread has been started:

GBR "delayed"

Not sure if there's an existing open thread - I couldn't see one aside from those in Speculative Discussion - but Anne-Marie Trevelyan has confirmed that due to time pressure in getting the energy crisis-related bills through parliament, there won't be time for the GBR bill. This was confirmed...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[physics34]

According to the telegraph there is a speech by Transport Sec Mark Harper on Tuesday Eve, spelling out new ticketing and reform.

 

[MotCO]

According to the telegraph there is a speech by Transport Sec Mark Harper on Tuesday Eve, spelling out new ticketing and reform.

Return rail tickets to be scrapped

Major reform set as Transport Secretary also commits to Boris Johnson's Great British Railways, a new public body

www.telegraph.co.uk

Return tickets are set to be scrapped as Rishi Sunak gives the green light to long-awaited sweeping reforms of Britain’s railways.
Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, will next week announce plans for new ticketing arrangements as he outlines how the Government will address a crisis on the railways.
The rollout of "single-leg pricing" will be unveiled, The Sunday Telegraph has been told.
It means that two singles will equal a return – making return tickets redundant – having proved a success during trials with passengers.
Mr Harper will also commit to Great British Railways (GBR), a new public body that will bring the operation of track and trains under the same place for the first time. GBR was first unveiled by Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps in May 2021, but progress has stalled amid criticism that the body was tantamount to “nationalisation through the back door”.
During the hiatus, fears have grown that GBR would be scrapped. Mr Harper will show that “the idea that GBR is dead, is dead”, according to one person who has seen a draft of his speech announcing the reforms next week.
A Government source said that the speech was still being finalised this weekend. The new public body is expected to take on responsibility for timetabling and ticketing, which are currently controlled by the Department for Transport.





Ticket pricing reform ranks among the most complicated issues that remain unsolved, since privatisation by successive governments. There are 55 million different fares, according to trade body the Rail Delivery Group.
Mr Harper is expected to hint at the greater use of ticketing technology – a signal that paper tickets could soon be scrapped in favour of QR codes and smartcards similar to the Oyster Card in use across public transport in London.
Advertisement
Single-leg pricing was trialled in 2020 by east coast train operator LNER. Return tickets were dropped in favour of two single tickets at the same price.
At the time, LNER said: “Rail tickets can be confusing. We want to make choosing and buying rail tickets simpler and more transparent. We hope this new structure is more straightforward: there are no more return tickets – one journey requires just one ticket.”
Keith Williams, the former deputy chair of John Lewis and ex-chief executive of British Airways, is expected to attend Mr Harper’s speech, which will be delivered in Westminster on Tuesday evening. Mr Williams conducted a two-a-half-year “root and branch” review of the railways on behalf of the Government and was the first to propose the idea of a “guiding mind” public body to prevent state meddling in day-to-day train operations.
But critics argue that Mr Johnson’s interpretation of Mr Williams's concept would have meant greater rather than less state intervention. Mr Williams previously envisaged the public body to be akin to the “Fat Controller” after the cantankerous character from Thomas the Tank Engine. Sources say that under Mr Sunak, the Fat Controller “will be put on a diet”.
Fears persist, however, that GBR will throttle the role of the private sector on the railways.
Former minister John Penrose, Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare, said: "Rather than bureaucrats or politicians pretending they know how much each passenger's journey should cost, why not get lots of different rail firms competing to beat each others' prices so tickets are always as cheap as possible?"
MP for Blackpool North Paul Maynard, rail minister under Boris Johnson added: “Mr Harper's speech is long awaited. We are all keen to understand the shape and scope of GBR, and how the balance will be struck between the guiding mind and fat controller.
“As always, I'll be looking to see the passenger's interest placed firmly at the centre of policy making – and a recognition we need to get the passengers back if the railway is to avoid more painful times ahead.”

How will scrapping return tickets work? Will singles become half the price of an existing return, or will returns become twice the current price of a single?

 

[yorkie]

Return rail tickets to be scrapped

Major reform set as Transport Secretary also commits to Boris Johnson's Great British Railways, a new public body

www.telegraph.co.uk

How will scrapping return tickets work? Will singles become half the price of an existing return, or will returns become twice the current price of a single?

Thread here:

End of the line for return rail tickets

Story in the Telegraph today, not yet available online but it has made the front page (amongst the lettuce and the balloon): RETURN tickets are to be scrapped as Rishi Sunak gives the green light to long awaited reforms of railways, Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, will announce plans...

www.railforums.co.uk