The Transport Committee has called on the Government to provide far greater detail on its rail reform programme and to amend the Railways Bill to guard against undue political interference in Great British Railways, as it published two reports concluding its inquiries into the legislation and rail investment pipelines.
In its report on the Railways Bill, the Committee warns that the legislation offers only a partial picture of how the new regime under Great British Railways, GBR, will function. While acknowledging that earlier rail legislation has also left detail to secondary processes, MPs argue that the scale of reform now proposed demands more transparency before the Bill reaches Report Stage in the Commons.
Crucially, the Committee highlights the absence of a draft GBR licence, which will define the organisation’s powers, duties and operating parameters. It calls on the Department for Transport to publish a comprehensive list of outstanding decisions, consultations and key documents, alongside target dates, covering both the run-up to GBR’s establishment and its first year of operation.
MPs also identify a potential tension at the heart of the reforms. The Secretary of State is afforded a central role in the new system, yet GBR is expected to operate as a responsible arm’s-length body. The Committee recommends amendments to the Bill to clarify this balance and reduce the risk of political micromanagement.
Another notable omission, according to the report, is the absence of a statutory passenger journey growth target. The Committee argues that increasing ridership is fundamental to the Government’s ambitions on economic growth, connectivity and decarbonisation. Embedding a growth duty in legislation would, it suggests, sharpen GBR’s focus and provide a clear measure of success.
Alongside its scrutiny of the Bill, the Committee has examined the rail investment pipeline. Its second report reiterates long-standing concerns about “boom and bust” funding cycles that create instability for suppliers, deter investment and weaken skills retention across the sector.
The creation of GBR is described as an opportunity to break this pattern. However, MPs stress that delivering a more stable pipeline will require political discipline. The Government must set out how much operational and financial autonomy GBR will have, particularly in shaping investment priorities.
The Committee identifies the forthcoming Long Term Rail Strategy and rolling stock strategy as central to restoring certainty. Without credible, time-bound strategies, the industry will struggle to plan capacity, invest in capability and deliver value for money.
Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury said the reforms promise much-needed structural change but warned that Parliament and the industry still lack clarity on how and when key elements will be delivered. She added that ending damaging funding cycles must now be a priority.
For the UK rail sector, the message is clear. Reform is advancing, but the credibility of Great British Railways will depend on transparency, defined governance boundaries and a stable investment framework. Without those foundations, structural change alone will not deliver the cultural and commercial reset the industry has long awaited.
