Government launches consultation on Great British Railways plans

(Sharecast News) - The UK government expanded on its plans to overhaul the country's rail system on Tuesday, introducing a new independent passenger watchdog and establishing Great British Railways (GBR) to unify track and train operations. According to the Department for Transport, the reforms aimed to improve reliability, simplify fares, and hold train operators accountable for service quality.

The proposed changes, outlined in a consultation launched on Tuesday, would address what the government described as longstanding inefficiencies and failures in the rail network, including timetable disruptions and poor passenger experiences.

It said a new watchdog would ensure train companies met clear service standards, provide accurate travel information, and resolve customer complaints effectively.

It would also have the authority to refer persistent service failures to the railway regulator for enforcement action.

"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," said the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander.

"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."

GBR would act as a single body overseeing rail operations, the DfT said, ending what the government called years of fragmentation and introducing a more coordinated approach to infrastructure and services.

The government said it was committed to working closely with private sector partners, investing billions in the rail supply chain to support long-term planning and innovation.

It said open access rail services would continue where they benefitted passengers without imposing excessive costs on taxpayers.

"GBR will fundamentally change our railways, delivering growth, connections and opportunities across the country," commented Laura Shoaf, chair of Shadow Great British Railways, the body establishing GBR.

"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."

Alongside the structural changes, the government said it was implementing reforms such as expanding pay-as-you-go ticketing and collaborating with local leaders to integrate regional transport networks.

The consultation, titled 'A Railway Fit for Britain's Future', will run for eight weeks, gathering industry and public input on the proposed reforms.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.