Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 April 2026 · HC 554
Letter from the Secretary of State for Transport relating to the Shadow Great British Railways, dated 23 March 2026
From: Transport Committee
Inquiry: Shadow Great British Railways
Summary
Secretary of State Heidi Alexander informs the Transport Committee that Shadow Great British Railways (SGBR) is transitioning to a new operational phase. SGBR, established to coordinate integrated railway leadership across the Department for Transport, DfT Operator, and Network Rail, has achieved alignment on performance standards, fares reform, innovation initiatives, and collaborative working. Laura Shoaf moves to the DFTO Board as Non-Executive Director, with integrated working practices now embedded as standard.
Key findings
- SGBR has achieved integration of track and train operations, with Train Operating Companies increasingly moving into public ownership and closer collaboration between operators
- Passenger-focused performance targets now aligned across all operators and Network Rail routes, with launch of unified Rail Customer Experience Survey providing first comprehensive view of passenger priorities
- Fares and ticketing reforms implemented including Advance Purchase fare expansion pilots across publicly owned operators and pay-as-you-go trials in East Midlands and Yorkshire
- Cross-sector innovation supported through Future Labs programme bringing together publicly owned operators for 12-week technology testing and demonstration cycles
- Leadership transition: Laura Shoaf appointed Non-Executive Director to DFTO Board; Richard Goodman, Alex Hynes, and Jeremy Westlake to provide collaborative leadership as move towards formal Great British Railways creation continues
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Heidi Alexander, Laura Shoaf, Ruth Cadbury, Richard Goodman, Alex Hynes, Jeremy Westlake, Tony Poulter, Department for Transport
Notable line
“SGBR's success in embedding collaboration in the rail sector means we can move into the next phase, with these new ways of working now the status quo.”
Key Quotes
“SGBR has been a forum for DfT, DfT Operator (DFTO), and Network Rail to work together much more closely under the leadership of Laura Shoaf.”
“SGBR has agreed passenger-focused and aligned train service performance targets across operators and Network Rail routes, so that everyone is working to the same targets and can better improve performance for passengers.”
“I am delighted that Laura Shoaf will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the DFTO Board.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗