Transport Secretary today (Tuesday, 3 September
2024) fired the starting gun on rail reform – ushering in a new
era for our railways which puts passengers first.
Today's launch of Shadow Great British Railways (Shadow GBR) will
set in motion a huge overhaul of the running of the rail network,
bringing together leaders from the Department for Transport,
Network Rail and publicly-owned operators.
Shadow GBR will pave the way for Great British Railways – a new
unified arm's length body responsible for finally bringing track
and train back together and overseeing both services and
infrastructure.
Today's announcement comes as the Government's Passenger Railway
Services (Public Ownership) Bill continues its passage through
the Commons, marking further progress in the Transport
Secretary's mission to put rail services back into the hands of
the public.
The landmark legislation reinforces the Government's relentless
focus on reversing decades of delays, cancellations and
unreliable services on Britain's railways.
It will prioritise passengers over private companies, putting the
railways back on track, while saving taxpayers up to an estimated
£150 million every year in fees alone in the process.
The Transport Secretary has also modernised the railway – root
and branch – so passengers are put first. She says this programme
will save money for taxpayers and passengers and deliver a more
reliable railway – and adds that this Government will not shy
away from the tough conversations necessary to deliver on this.
As part of the plans for reform, the Government has recognised
the need to speed up training for drivers and is collaborating
with the sector to build resilience and improve productivity.
Following a consultation this summer on lowering the minimum age
for drivers from 20 to 18, the Government is reviewing the
feedback and will lay out next steps in due course.
Transport Secretary said:
“Today, I am firing the starting gun on the biggest reforms to
our railways in a generation. I am determined to end the chaos,
delay and disruption faced by people on train journeys every day.
“Establishing Shadow Great British Railways marks a significant
step towards delivering a unified railway with passengers at its
heart by bringing together track and train, and by progressing
the Passenger Railways Services Bill we're one step closer to
public ownership which will help put our railways back on track.
“This Government will direct every penny into creating a
stronger, more reliable rail network that works for everyone.
“This is about making the railways work for the people that use
them – putting passengers first and driving up performance.”
Further measures set out by the Secretary of State today include
the announcement of a new Rail Sale early next year, to tie in
with celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain's
passenger railways. Returning by popular demand, the sale will
aim to encourage more people on to the railways by offering up to
50 per cent off train tickets for a specific time period.
On top of this, tap-in tap-out technology will be rolled out at a
further 45 stations next year thanks to nearly £27 million of
Government funding, meaning simpler and more flexible train
travel.
Among these stations will be London Stansted, allowing smoother
journeys for international passengers from train to plane. This
follows 47 stations previously announced across the Southeast
that are set to benefit from the technology in September.
The reforms announced today would not be possible to deliver
while industrial disputes are ongoing. That's why the Transport
Secretary is prioritising ending the longest national strike in
the history of the railways, clearing the way for vital progress
on the network.
Just recently, following a series of positive talks led by
Government, Aslef agreed to recommend a new pay proposal to its
members which will now be put to members in a referendum.
