The Department for Transport has opened a consultation on Great British Railways legislation and the process of rail reform.

This is the first step in delivering primary legislation to implement rail transformation as part of the Transport Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May.

The consultation is open for eight weeks, until August 4, and gives everyone with an interest in the railway the opportunity to feedback on the legislative proposals which will deliver key elements of the structural reforms to the rail industry.

The consultation is focused across three key areas;

• The establishment of Great British Railways, including its proposed functions and duties;
• How the government will ensure clear accountabilities in the rail sector through a new governance framework;
• Reform of wider industry structures and processes that are needed to deliver transformation of the railways and a new industry culture.

You can access all consultation documents, and details on how to respond, here.

The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) has also now published its report covering the Whole Industry Strategic Plan (WISP) Call for Evidence, summarising more than 300 responses helping to shape the 30-year strategy for the whole rail sector.

Key themes emerging from the report include decarbonisation, accessibility, the need for a strong customer service ethos and financial sustainability, as well as the importance of integrating with other transport.

The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) has also now published its report covering the Whole Industry Strategic Plan (WISP) Call for Evidence, summarising more than 300 responses helping to shape the 30-year strategy for the whole rail sector.

Key themes emerging from the report include decarbonisation, accessibility, the need for a strong customer service ethos and financial sustainability, as well as the importance of integrating with other transport.

Community rail is cited directly in the report, in the section related to levelling up and connectivity. The report states that community rail was highlighted in some responses as an important vehicle for empowering communities to participate in and influence key decisions on the railway, with some suggesting that community rail could play an enhanced role in promoting local and regional rail travel and establishing better processes for them to bring forward and seek support and funding for improvements to the railway in their area.

Community Rail Network submitted a comprehensive response to the call for evidence, as did a number of our members across the country. You can read our full submission here.

The GBRTT report can be accessed here.