Plans announced for new rail watchdog

The UK government has set out plans for a new rail watchdog as part of an overhaul of how the railways are run that gives passengers a stronger voice.

The new watchdog will sit alongside Great British Railways (GBR), the body that will oversee train operators and track maintenance under plans to improve reliability for rail users.

Outlined in a consultation launched today (18 February), plans aim to put passengers’ needs at the forefront of all decisions made on the railways, ending major failure and disruptions like the 2018 timetabling crisis.

Through this consultation the Government will be working with industry to rewire the railways and unite train and track, putting an end to outdated and inefficient processes which have resulted in poor performance, timetable chaos and complex fares and ticketing. It will also be giving devolved leaders more of a say on the services that directly impact their towns and cities, working together to integrate transport making it simpler to travel and attracting more people to our railways. In Greater Manchester, plans were set out earlier this year as to how a number of rail routes and stations in the city-region will come under Bee Network control by the end of the decade.

The new independent watchdog will be tasked with ensuring GBR addresses the issues that consistently rank highest in passenger complaints, rooting out the problems that cause poor journeys, ensuring passengers are given clear information when they travel, and help tackle the maze of confusing rail fares and tickets passengers have to navigate.

It will hold operators to account on behalf of passengers and arbitrate where passengers are not satisfied about the handling of a complaint. Working with the Transport Secretary and GBR, it will also be given the powers to set clear standards for passengers on things like journey information and assistance, investigate persistent problems, and publish reports on poor service. Where poor passenger experiences are identified, it will be able to refer this to the railway regulator for enforcement action.

Growth is at the heart of this Government’s missions and the key priority in the Plan for Change which is why one of GBR’s guiding principles will be to work closely with the private sector to create jobs and drive investment and innovation.

This includes investing billions of pounds in the private sector supply chain, so that improvements to the network are more coordinated, giving longer-term assurance to businesses. A long-term rail strategy will give industry certainty on what they can expect, including a long-term plan for rolling stock.

Open access services will continue having a place on the network where they encourage growth, improve connectivity and provide more choice for passengers, as long as these benefits are not outweighed by costs to the taxpayer and impacts to performance.

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said:

“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.

“We’re giving passengers a powerful voice with a new watchdog dedicated to addressing their biggest concerns, building railways people can trust, improving our services and boosting the economy in the process – the priority in our Plan for Change.”

Plans are the next step in establishing GBR, which will end years of fragmentation by bringing track and train together in a unified, simplified railway. The consultation also looks more widely at far-reaching reforms and how GBR will interact with the industry to effectively implement its plans.

Laura Shoaf, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, said:

“GBR will fundamentally change our railways, delivering growth, connections and opportunities across the country.

“The plans set out today will mean a better railway for everyone that uses it, allowing industry to work closer together, putting passengers and customers first and providing better value for money for taxpayers.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, 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.”