Shadow Great British Railways Chair and Rail Minister face Transport Committee
MPs will examine progress with establishing Great British Railways (GBR) as the new state agency that will run trains and replace Network Rail.
Meeting details
In this evidence session, the Transport Committee questions Laura Shoaf, Chair of Shadow GBR – the working iteration of GBR that will be fully set up and staffed pending a ‘Railways Bill’ that is due to be introduced to Parliament this year. Once up and running, it will have responsibility for rail infrastructure as well as ticketing and passenger services, replacing the current franchising model.
Shoaf gives evidence beside Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, a former Chair of Network Rail until 2024.
Her role involves convening meetings around planning for the establishment of GBR with Network Rail's Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, along with Alex Hynes, Director General for Rail Services at DfT, and Robin Gisby, CEO of the DfT office that runs those rail franchises that have been returned to state ownership.
Explaining the work of Shadow GBR, former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said Shoaf will drive improvements, integration and culture change, in preparation for the legislation being passed and all rail services being renationalised. Shoaf will also identify “backroom benefits” and “passenger improvements”.
The cross-party Committee questions Shoaf and Hendy on the work Shadow GBR has undertaken to date on reforms that can be implemented without the Bill, such as simplifying rail fares. They are asked to explain the cultural change towards collaboration that ministers have described, and the engagement they have had with train companies about the sector’s transition to being nationalised.
There are also questions about addressing skills shortages in the rail industry, and establishing GBR’s HQ in Derby.