Rail sector to share views on draft Rail Reform Bill at Transport Committee
The Transport Committee holds the first session of its inquiry to scrutinise the Government’s draft Rail Reform Bill, with witnesses from the Office of Rail and Road, Rail Partners, Rail Freight Group, Rail Delivery Group and First Rail.
The Committee has also published 71 pieces of written evidence it received during its call for evidence, including submissions from trades unions, train operating companies, passenger groups, sub-national transport bodies and the Department for Transport (DfT).
Meeting details
The Government’s draft Bill, published in February, proposes legislation needed to deliver reforms included in the Government’s Plan for Rail. This includes giving Great British Railways new legal powers to manage and oversee the country’s rail infrastructure and franchising of services to train operating companies.
MPs will question the witnesses from across the sector on their views about the draft Bill, including about the sector’s ability to hold the new ‘Integrated Rail Body’ to account, and about its independence from DfT.
There will also be questions about whether the Bill should set out detail of a draft licence for the Integrated Rail Body, and concerns that competition in access to track for freight operators may be impacted by the new structure.
In addition to this session, the Transport Committee will also hold an evidence session on Tuesday 23 April that will investigate NATS response to the 2023 August Bank Holiday air traffic control incident. More information is available here.