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24 April 2024 - Scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill - Oral evidence

Committee Transport Committee
Inquiry Scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill

Wednesday 24 April 2024

Start times: 9:30am (private) 9:30am (public)


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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

At 9:30am: Oral evidence
Work Scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill (Legislative scrutiny)
Chief Executive at Office of Rail and Road
Director of Strategy, Policy and Reform at Office of Rail and Road
At 10:15am: Oral evidence
Work Scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill (Legislative scrutiny)
Chief Executive Officer at Rail Partners
Director at Rail Freight Group
Managing Director at First Rail
Chief Executive at Rail Delivery Group

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.

Location

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

How to attend