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The Railways Bill - discussion about the legislation that will create Great British Railways

Stossgebet

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That's very true, but we are now more than 30 years from the directive and the 'liberalisation' of European rail is still a work in progress - somewhat different from the smash and grab operation performed in Great Britain between 1993-96!
The eu laws are no longer "in progress". They have been law for years. The process of compliance is taking the time.
But that's how a lot of eu law works. Do it slowly, and hope no one notices their national democracy has been superceded. From the 1991 directive, to the eu fourth railway package becoming law in 2019... that's a lot of time to make all the changes behind the scenes and out of sight of the travelling public and taxpayers, and leaving the final and most visible change to the end, after all the enabling laws and changes have been set up and solidified.

That the extremist pro eu john major government went all in on railway privatisation during his one term of government, does not change the fact that eu law prevented the renationalisation and verticle integration, in all the years since then, that brexit has now allowed us to do.

My concern going forwards, with regards how GBR is set up, and the formerly franchised operators are re-integrated, is that the current government could leave the door open to another easy privatisation, by not fully integrating the train operators. Afterall, by keeping open access and track access charging, they are chosing not to fully undo the tory and eu structure. And if the so called 'integrated business units' are not merged together, and don't achieve the efficiencies we all hope they do, then they can very easily be split up and tendered out again.
 
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Nicholas Lewis

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It wouldn't entirely surprise me if the entire structure at national level ended up as being a loose federation of "GBR Network" and "GBR Trains". Doing that would save on doing a massive reorganisation for the sake of it. It is also somewhat required as the infrastructure and trains are still being funded and regulated separately anyway, and there's a reasonable chance of an eventual return to the single market which would likely require it.
That is the daftest part of the bill keeping funding of tarck and train separate on the one hand and then telling them to integrate on the other. They need to be treated as one and NR bought to heel. Of course there needs to be backstops to stop an IBU abandoning all track renewals and going on a mtce holidays but they need to won a joint budget.
 

JonathanH

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My concern going forwards, with regards how GBR is set up, and the formerly franchised operators are re-integrated, is that the current government could leave the door open to another easy privatisation, by not fully integrating the train operators. Afterall, by keeping open access and track access charging, they are chosing not to fully undo the tory and eu structure. And if the so called 'integrated business units' are not merged together, and don't achieve the efficiencies we all hope they do, then they can very easily be split up and tendered out again.
If it all gets integrated together it can be privatised as a single entity. There is no construction that absolutely prevents a future privatisation. There does not appear to be any political will for another privatisation of the railway, because the industry will always be dependent on state funding.
 

Bald Rick

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It wouldn't entirely surprise me if the entire structure at national level ended up as being a loose federation of "GBR Network" and "GBR Trains".

There’s no such thing as “GBR Trains”
 

takno

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There’s no such thing as “GBR Trains”
I think they were imagining/suggesting how things could end up rather than stating fact ;)
Exactly. As far as i know there's no such thing as GBR anything right now.

I was just suggesting a structure that would be comparatively easy to put together in the next couple of years, and which looks a bit like how DfTO and Network Rail already seem to be shaping up to me.
 

Bald Rick

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Exactly. As far as i know there's no such thing as GBR anything right now.

I was just suggesting a structure that would be comparatively easy to put together in the next couple of years, and which looks a bit like how DfTO and Network Rail already seem to be shaping up to me.

Ah, I see.

Well we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we ;)
 

fraser158

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Remaining stages of the bill in the Commons was scheduled for Wednesday but has now been postponed for a debate on files released regarding Peter Mandelson.

Business of the House

3.43pm
The Leader of the House of Commons
(Sir Alan Campbell)
With permission, I will make a short business statement about the remainder of this week’s business.

Tuesday 2 June—Committee of the whole House for the Armed Forces Bill.

Wednesday 3 June—General debate on the Government’s response to the Humble Address on the appointment of Lord Mandelson.

Thursday 4 June—General debate on Pride Month.

I will announce further business in the usual way on Thursday.

 

Nicholas Lewis

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Theres c170 amendments still to progress many by DfT themselves responding to previous discussions and 57 new clauses beings proposed with Olly Glover sponsoring the most.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4030/stages/20497/amendments

So you get for example
This new clause requires the Secretary of State to review the Restoring Your Railway Fund, announced by the previous Government in February 2020.

or

This new clause would require the Secretary of State, when setting the rail freight target and preparing the statutory rail strategy, to treat Ely Junction as a nationally significant capacity constraint and to report to Parliament on progress in addressing it.

neither of which get anywhere. In fact only ones proposed by SoS will likely get approved but they have to slog through the motions as thats they way parliament works. Then after next week it transfer to House of Lords to go through the same machinations again which may start before summer recess but we will have to wait and see.
 

Snow1964

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Dft have issued a timetable paper regarding GBR and when various expected to happen

(format of timetable not practical to quote)

DocumentDocument descriptionTarget publication period
GBR licence policy document

Published by: DfT
This sets out the design of the new accountability framework for GBR. It includes a draft outline of the new integrated GBR licence which is a critical part of that framework, ahead of public consultation on the licence later this year.

In the new system, GBR will be required to fulfil the conditions of the licence, and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will enforce against the licence.
Published May 2026
2040 Rail Freight Growth Targets

Published by: DfT
Announcement of more detailed rail freight growth targets for 2040, as a milestone towards the overall target of at least 75% rail freight growth by 2050.Summer 2026
Long-term rail strategy discussion paper

Published by: DfT
This sets out the government’s current plans for the long-term rail strategy (LTRS), including its anticipated scope and structure, ahead of the final LTRS being published in 2027.

The LTRS will provide the overarching direction for the railways set by the Secretary of State and delivered by GBR. It will provide clarity and confidence to the wider sector on how the railways will be run.
Summer 2026
Summary of memorandum of understanding between the Passenger Watchdog and the ORR

Published by: Transport Focus/ORR
This will summarise what the government expects to be included in the memorandum of understanding.

The final version will be formally published later this year and will outline how the Passenger Watchdog and the ORR will work together, and the process they will follow when concerns are escalated for enforcement action.
Summer 2026
Rolling stock and infrastructure strategy

Published by: Network Rail/DFTO
The rolling stock and infrastructure strategy will set out how the railway will align rolling stock, infrastructure and traction decisions over time, supporting disciplined sequencing, improved value for money and providing a more stable investment pipeline.Summer 2026
GBR implementation timing

Published by: DfT/Network Rail/DFTO
This will outline the high-level path to establishing GBR. It will detail the implementation stages and target timings needed to ensure GBR can be stood up at pace following Royal Assent of the Railways Bill.Autumn 2026
Retail code of practice consultation

Published by: ORR
A consultation on the future rail retail market code of practice. The code of practice will set the rules which GBR has to follow to ensure a fair and open retail market.Autumn 2026
Draft access and use policy (AUP) consultation

Published by: Network Rail
This will consult on the framework GBR must follow when deciding which operators are given access to, and use of, its network.

This will include key safeguards to ensure GBR does not unfairly prioritise its own services and that it fairly considers freight and open access operators too.
Autumn 2026
Draft GBR licence consultation

Published by: DfT
A consultation on GBR’s proposed licence, building on what was previously shared in the licence policy document.

It will outline the proposed conditions GBR must meet as part of its operation and the role of the ORR in enforcing these.
Autumn 2026
ORR appeals procedure consultation

Published by: ORR
A consultation on the proposed principles and operation of ORR’s new function as an appeals body for access and charging decisions.

It will build on the published discussion paper and set out the proposed process for freight and open access operators wishing to appeal a charging or access decision made by GBR.
Spring 2027
Retail code of practice

Published by: ORR
This will detail the rules that GBR must follow to ensure a fair and open retail market. These will form part of GBR’s licence and be enforced by the ORR.Spring 2027
Charging and performance framework consultation

Published by: Network Rail
A consultation on GBR’s proposed policies regarding charging and performance of operators on its network.

It will cover track access charges as well as performance schemes for planned and unplanned disruption.
Spring 2027
Access and use policy (AUP) final document

Published by: GBR
This will set out how GBR will manage access to, and use of, the network.

This will include key safeguards to ensure GBR does not unfairly prioritise its own services and that it fairly considers freight and open access operators too.
Spring 2027
Long-term rail strategy

Published by: DfT
To be published by the Secretary of State, setting out the long-term vision for the railway.

It will provide the strategic objectives guiding both GBR and government decision-making, outlining the long-term outcomes the railway is expected to deliver over a 30-year period.

It will be the first strategy of its kind and ensure the entire sector has greater certainty and clarity about the long-term direction of travel for the railway.
 
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Roy Badami

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Dft have issued a timetable paper regarding GBR and when various expected to happen

(format of timetable not practical to quote)

So, to summarise. This summer, they'll be publishing four documents. This autumn, they'll publish another four. Next spring, they'll publish four more. And next autumn, yet one more.

So this is just a timetable for publishing policy documents. However, one of the policy documents due to be published in Autumn 2026 is "GBR implementation timing". I think that will be the timetable that tells us when things will happen.
 
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Nicholas Lewis

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So, to summarise. This summer, they'll be publishing four documents. This autumn, they'll publish another four. Next spring, they'll publish four more. And next autumn, yet one more.

So this is just a timetable for publishing policy documents. However, one of the policy documents due to be published in Autumn 2026 is "GBR implementation timing". I think that will be the timetable that tells us when things will happen.
The Rolling stock and infrastructure strategy feels a bit premature would have thought they would sort the Long-term rail strategy first
 

Snow1964

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Plaid Cmyru have gone on attack over Wales being treated poorly, with 3 amendments tabled

A ferocious legislative battle has erupted in the House of Commons as Plaid Cymru launches a high-stakes bid to secure the complete devolution of rail infrastructure to Wales. The confrontation threatens to derail the UK Government’s flagship Railways Bill, exposing decades of systemic underfunding that has severely crippled Welsh transport networks.

Led by Caerfyrddin MP Ann Davies, the Welsh nationalist party formally tabled three critical amendments to the legislation on Wednesday, June 10. At stake is billions of pounds in withheld infrastructure capital and the sovereign right of the Welsh Government to dictate its own economic future. The political standoff underscores a profound fracturing in the relationship between Westminster and the devolved nations over the equitable distribution of national resources.

The Railways Bill, designed to establish the state-owned Great British Railways, has been heavily criticized for entrenching an England-centric infrastructure model. While the legislation promises to streamline rail operations across England, Plaid Cymru argues it explicitly denies Wales the very autonomy already granted to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Ann Davies, serving as the party’s transport spokesperson, articulated a scathing indictment of the current arrangement. She highlighted the absurdity of a system where two separate governments manage different segments of what should operate as a cohesive national network. Under the proposed bill, Welsh ministers are merely granted the right to be consulted by the new central authority. Davies emphatically rejected this concession, declaring that Wales does not want consultation; it demands absolute control over its own transport destiny.

The financial architecture of UK rail funding heavily discriminates against Welsh interests, driven by controversial classifications of English infrastructure projects. Key data exposing this disparity includes:
  • The spiraling cost of the HS2 high-speed rail project has eclipsed £100 billion, yet the UK Government classified it as an "England and Wales" project, denying Wales an estimated £5 billion in Barnett formula consequentials.
  • The UK Government recently announced a theoretical £14 billion investment plan for Welsh rail, but an inquiry by MP Ann Davies revealed this cash is entirely unfunded and contingent on future spending reviews.
  • In response to direct parliamentary questioning, the Department for Transport could only guarantee a meager £445 million over the next ten years.
  • Scotland completely controls its rail network and sets its own strategy, ensuring absolute alignment with its domestic economic priorities.

 

LNW-GW Joint

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That quote appears to be a newsfeed from Kenya.
Plaid are still banging on about the HS2 budget being an "England and Wales" project, so no Barnett consequentials.
Labour's majority will see off the amendments to the Bill, but not without some noise.

The technical answer to non-devolution of infrastructure is the 130-mile Marches line, which is vital to the Welsh rail network but is largely in England.
Wales also gets fairly generous treatment in other rail projects (Cambrian ETCS, line speed upgrades, resignalling, contribution to SW Metro etc).
Somebody also has to pay for the frequent rebuilding of the Conwy Valley line (and elsewhere) after storms.

The "unfunded" money for the £14 billion offered for Welsh infrastructure is no different for the UK as a whole, it's all dependent on future spending reviews.
I'm reminded of the attitude Merseytravel took to the desired devolution of Merseyrail infrastructure. They ran a mile when they discovered what the true cost was.
 

Nicholas Lewis

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From todays order paper they have given from end of PM questions (c1300-1315) to 1900 to hold third reading. Its all a bit pointless as the bill will go forward to the Lords as published with Labours majority but be interesting to see what actually gets debated. Then its off to the House of Lords to start the process all over again and there will no doubt be some adjustments but Alexander will only accept what she and DfT want with this majority.
 

Cletus

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Currently at Ashford where the announcements say I’m about to travel on a “Network South East” service.

Edit- perhaps just something to do with the NSE 40th anniversary
 
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Nicholas Lewis

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Two urgent questions have delayed the commencement of proceeding to 1440. The under secretary Keir Mather has been sent out to bat on his own but its only moving the amendments DfT want whatever time is left is for the Torys and LDs to make their case for various new clauses they are proposing but it will be the Lords that decide where it goes next.
 

JonathanH

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There are some crazy ideas in some of the amendments.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commo...1360-E0F8-4D80-B4B4-E9EF69FA9B39/RailwaysBill
New clause 43—Provision of food and drink—

“(1) Great British Railways has a duty to provide food and drink on all qualifying GBR services.

(2) A GBR service is a qualifying service if it has a journey time of at least one hour from the station from which the service first departs to the station at which it terminates.

(3) In meeting the duty under this section, Great British Railways may provide food and drink through such means as it considers appropriate.”
 

Bald Rick

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takno

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That‘s easily delivered.

”GBR will be provide food and drink to all passengers on trains which have a schedule over an hour long through appropriate means, those means being instructions on our app explaining on how to make a packed lunch ahead of the journey.“
First class passengers to be furnished with instructions on how to purchase a premium meal deal.
 

whoosh

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New clause 43—Provision of food and drink—

“(1) Great British Railways has a duty to provide food and drink on all qualifying GBR services.

(2) A GBR service is a qualifying service if it has a journey time of at least one hour from the station from which the service first departs to the station at which it terminates.

Well there's an easy way around that. Just like there's an easy way around the 50km bus route limit without a tachograph, and associated stricter driving hours limits.
Split the route up, e.g. Cambridge to East Croydon, East Croydon to Stevenage, Stevenage to Cambridge.
 

Goldfish62

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Well there's an easy way around that. Just like there's an easy way around the 50km bus route limit without a tachograph, and associated stricter driving hours limits.
Split the route up, e.g. Cambridge to East Croydon, East Croydon to Stevenage, Stevenage to Cambridge.
The easiest way is just to not allow the ammendment to pass.
 

vuzzeho

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The easiest way is just to not allow the ammendment to pass.
That's almost definitely what is going to happen. It's a ridiculous amendment. Sure, provision of catering should be required by GBR, but having it as 'all services over an hour' would also include the very-much-a-metro Watford Junction to East Croydon service. For things like this, it's probably more useful to require GBR to have a certain minimum service standard on all inter-city services and local services above and below a certain time threshold. But I think something like that is already in the Bill. Like said before, what is needed is more documents from DfT and DFTO about plans for how GBR plans to operate.
 

zwk500

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That's almost definitely what is going to happen. It's a ridiculous amendment. Sure, provision of catering should be required by GBR, but having it as 'all services over an hour' would also include the very-much-a-metro Watford Junction to East Croydon service. For things like this, it's probably more useful to require GBR to have a certain minimum service standard on all inter-city services and local services above and below a certain time threshold. But I think something like that is already in the Bill. Like said before, what is needed is more documents from DfT and DFTO about plans for how GBR plans to operate.
At some point, if the government wants GBR to be even moderately successful, it needs to stop trying to be a Regional Manager of every department and let GBR actually run it's own business.

The legislation for GBR needs to allow it to respond to unknown unknowns potentially many years away. Overly prescriptive legislation will see GBR trapped and unable to do anything to respond to what is highly likely to be a rapidly changing socio-economic environment.
But I guess MPs must be seen to have done something, so tabling a counter-productive amendment isn't a problem if it gets them the lead page of the local paper.
 

Nicholas Lewis

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At some point, if the government wants GBR to be even moderately successful, it needs to stop trying to be a Regional Manager of every department and let GBR actually run it's own business.

The legislation for GBR needs to allow it to respond to unknown unknowns potentially many years away. Overly prescriptive legislation will see GBR trapped and unable to do anything to respond to what is highly likely to be a rapidly changing socio-economic environment.
But I guess MPs must be seen to have done something, so tabling a counter-productive amendment isn't a problem if it gets them the lead page of the local paper.
This is pretty standard on any new bill is for MPs to promote amended clauses it gets them on the radar. Reality is govt of the day will just use its majority to force through want it wants and Hendy in te Lords is very helpful to steer it to what they want.
 

Recessio

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This is pretty standard on any new bill is for MPs to promote amended clauses it gets them on the radar. Reality is govt of the day will just use its majority to force through want it wants and Hendy in te Lords is very helpful to steer it to what they want.
Indeed, it's par for the course and not unique to this bill. In fact we've probably given the amendment even more consideration on this thread than it will get in the Lords...
 

Clarence Yard

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Indeed, it's par for the course and not unique to this bill. In fact we've probably given the amendment even more consideration on this thread than it will get in the Lords...

Amendments that have not been voted on at third reading in the Commons do not carry over into the Lords - they have fallen. The bill, as formally amended at that third reading, is what the Lords discuss and can also put their own further amendments to.
 

Snow1964

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Amendments that have not been voted on at third reading in the Commons do not carry over into the Lords - they have fallen. The bill, as formally amended at that third reading, is what the Lords discuss and can also put their own further amendments to.
Dft have updated webpage now Bill is going to Lords

All sorts of fact sheets attached, freight, fares, accessibility, long term strategy etc

The Railways Bill establishes Great British Railways (GBR), a new publicly owned body to be the directing mind for Britain’s rail network. GBR will bring together track and train to eliminate fragmentation, simplify fares and ticketing and improve accountability.


The documents on this page provide information about the Railways Bill, which was introduced to the House of Commons on 5 November 2025 and to the House of Lords on 11 June 2026.


The factsheets explain measures in the Railways Bill, why they are needed and what impact they will have.
 
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JonathanH

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Dft have updated webpage now Bill is going to Lords

All sorts of fact sheets attached, freight, fares, assessibility, long term strategy etc

Most of that is what has already been published though back in November 2025, on the first page of this thread. I think it is just some limited updates in the light of amendments, rather than being new information.
 

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