Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 January 2026 · HC 1472
Letter from the Minister for Rail, Department for Transport relating to the Railways Bill, dated 21 January 2026
From: Transport Committee
Inquiry: Railways Bill
Summary
Minister for Rail Lord Hendy responds to six commitments made during Railways Bill oral evidence on 7 January 2026. The letter addresses publication timelines for draft documents (Long Term Rail Strategy, passenger standards, GBR licence, Infrastructure Capacity Plan, and business plan), disabled representation on the Passengers' Council Board, mayoral references in the Bill, station car park decision-making, and confirmation that both general and specific Public Sector Equality Duty provisions apply to GBR.
Key findings
- Long Term Rail Strategy emerging thinking to be shared with stakeholders later in 2026; full publication expected around GBR launch in 2027.
- Passenger Watchdog to become fully operational within 12 months of Royal Assent and will develop new passenger standards binding on GBR and licensed operators.
- Draft GBR licence will be published and consulted on during Bill's passage; Infrastructure Capacity Plan and business plan to be produced by GBR post-designation, not published during passage.
- Current Passengers' Council Board comprises 8 members with two having direct accessibility experience; new clause 18 duties protect disabled passenger representation without requiring legislative amendment.
- Both general and specific provisions of Public Sector Equality Duty confirmed to apply in full to GBR; Equalities Impact Assessment will be published ahead of Report Stage.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Ruth Cadbury MP, Transport Select Committee, Great British Railways (GBR), Passenger Watchdog, Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Mobility Access Committee Scotland, Transport Focus
Notable line
“… both the general and specific PSED will apply in full to GBR.”
Key Quotes
“… we will share emerging thinking on the LTRS with stakeholders including the Committee, as part of the planned engagement process, later this year.”
“… the Watchdog to be fully operational within 12 months of Royal Assent”
“A draft ICP to determine best use of the network will not be published during the passage of the Bill as it will be for GBR – not the government - to produce.”
“… there is already a protection in the Bill to ensure that the future composition of the board continues to be suitably representative of passengers, including disabled passengers.”
“I can confirm that both the general and specific PSED will apply in full to GBR.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗