Committee publication · Correspondence · 30 October 2025 · HC 1472
Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Leader of the House relating to the Rail Reform Bill, dated 28 October 2025
From: Transport Committee
Inquiry: Railways Bill
Summary
The Transport Committee Chair writes to the Leader of the House requesting assurances that the Rail Reform Bill's parliamentary timetable will allow sufficient time for the Committee to conduct oral evidence hearings and produce a scrutiny report before Commons passage. The Committee emphasises its expertise contribution beyond the Public Bill Committee and seeks disclosure of the expected timetable to inform high-quality parliamentary debate on this landmark legislation.
Key findings
- Transport Committee seeks assurances that inter-stage time will permit oral evidence-taking and Committee report production during Bill's Commons passage
- Committee notes Great British Railways establishment is scheduled for 2027 and acknowledges urgency, but argues lengthy government preparation should have secured adequate scrutiny time
- Rail Reform Bill announced in King's Speech July 2024; Committee previously conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of predecessor version in spring 2024
- Committee claims its expertise will make 'vital contribution' to understanding legislation beyond the role of the Public Bill Committee
- Letter copied to Secretary of State for Transport and Liaison Committee Chair, referencing Education Committee's prior concerns about select committee scrutiny time on recent Bills
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Ruth Cadbury MP, Sir Alan Campbell MP, Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Dame Meg Hillier MP, Transport Committee, Department for Transport
Notable line
“… we consider that the expertise of the Transport Committee will make a vital contribution to the House's understanding of the legislation and how it could be strengthened.”
Key Quotes
“We appreciate the urgency of bringing forward these measures. Reform and the advent of a single ' directing mind' for the railway have been awaited since the Plan for Rail was published in 2021 …”
“Notwithstanding the important role that a Public Bill Committee will play in scrutinising the Bill, we consider that the expertise of the Transport Committee will make a vital contribution to the House's understanding of the legislation and how it could be strengthened.”
“I would therefore be grateful for assurances that the time between stages of the Bill's passage in the Commons will be sufficient to enable the Transport Committee to take oral evidence on the principle and detail of the proposals …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗