Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she has told officials at the Department for Transport she expects Great British Railways to be operational by the start of 2027
Britain’s state-owned rail firm will be set up within two years, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has revealed.
The Cabinet minister said she has told officials at the Department for Transport she expects Great British Railways (GBR) to be operational by the start of 2027.
Last year the Labour government passed a landmark bill in the Commons to bring the train operating companies back into public ownership within the next three years. Ms Alexander said GBR will be a new powerful public body to manage the rail infrastructure and train operations and stop the “total mess” that currently exists.
She said there is a “dizzying array of different organisations that are involved in running the railways”.
But quizzed on Tuesday on why it would take so long to set up GBR, she said: “The passage of legislation in Parliament, from presenting a bill through to it getting Royal Assent, normally takes something between six months and a year. I have to consult, because these are very significant structural changes to the way in which the railway runs.”
Her comments came as the government launched a major eight-week long consultation on overhauling Britain’s railways on Tuesday to “sweep away decades of failure”.
The plans, which have previously been announced, include the creation of GBR. A new independent watchdog will also be established with powers to set standards on issues such as journey information and assistance, and will be able to refer instances of poor performance to a regulator for enforcement action.
Devolved leaders will be given more influence on services that directly affect their towns and cities. Ms Alexander added: “Passengers have put up with broken railways for far too long. This landmark reform will sweep away decades of failure, creating a Great British Railways passengers can rely on.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul how the railways are run – creating a service that puts passengers first, with more reliable trains and simpler fares and tickets.
“In Greater Manchester things are already changing. We’re working in partnership with the Government and the rail industry on plans for the next phase of the Bee Network, to join-up our trains, buses, trams, and active travel routes, moving from a fragmented system to one that is more accountable to our residents.
“We look forward to helping shape the bill, with a statutory role for Mayors and city-regions in making the railways work for everyone.”