Legislation that will transform Britain’s railways is being introduced today (5 November 2025), paving the way for a simpler, more reliable network, which puts passengers before profits.
The Railways Bill, which will be laid in Parliament today, will create Great British Railways (GBR) – the new publicly owned company, which will bring together the management of passenger services and rail infrastructure.
GBR will be accountable to passengers, freight customers, and taxpayers and will focus on responding to their needs. Headquartered in Derby, GBR will create a simpler, more unified railway that delivers easier journeys and offers better value for money. This will include a new one-stop-shop app where passengers can check train times and book tickets.
The Railways Bill will also establish a strengthened passenger watchdog, which will be a powerful new voice to investigate poor service and advocate for improvements.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Britain deserves a railway that is fit for the future – one that rebuilds the trust of its passengers, regenerates its communities and restores reliability and value for money.
“The introduction of this legislation is a major step towards a rail network that supports Britain’s businesses and delivers for the travelling public – paving the way for economic growth and access to opportunity across the country.”
The Railways Bill builds on the government’s public ownership programme, which is driving improved services. Southeastern and LNER are among the top five operators nationally for lowest cancellation rates. South Western Railway has more than tripled the number of new trains in service since entering public ownership, offering more comfortable journeys and passengers can now use tickets across publicly owned operators during cancellations, at no extra cost.
Major changes in the bill include:
- A strengthened passenger watchdog
- Fare and ticketing reform
- Better business planning
- Localised decision making
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, commented: “The introduction of the Railways Bill to Parliament marks a pivotal moment for rail reform across the country.This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make trains more reliable and tickets easier to use, with clearer accountability for passengers and greater confidence in every journey.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said:
“I very much welcome the introduction of the UK Railways Bill, which will improve rail services and deliver a more integrated, accountable and passenger-focused railway across the UK.
“It is also a significant step forward in our collaborative approach to rail reform, and I am confident that our continued joint working with the UK government will ensure the delivery of a modern, integrated railway that works for passengers in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, added:
“An accessible, affordable and reliable rail network integrated with the wider transport system is key to delivering sustainable economic growth and improving regional productivity.
Today marks another important step on the road to realising this vision and delivering a railway that works for passengers, freight operators and the country as a whole.
We look forward to working with the government, MPs and the rail industry over the coming months to make sure this bill provides the right foundation for a reformed railway.”
Image credit: iStockphoto.com
