We are not convinced that the Department has paid sufficient attention, in advance of the delayed creation of Great British Railways, to the changes it can make now to improve the situation for passengers and taxpayers. The Department expected its reform programme to result in annual savings of £1.5 billion. But GBR has not yet been established and this scale of saving will not materialise for many years. The Department is framing its ambitions for rail reform around the introduction of GBR, ...

We are not convinced that the Department has paid sufficient attention, in advance of the delayed creation of Great British Railways, to the changes it can make now to improve the situation for passengers and taxpayers. The Department expected its reform programme to result in annual savings of £1.5 billion. But GBR has not yet been established and this scale of saving will not materialise for many years. The Department is framing its ambitions for rail reform around the introduction of GBR, seeing this as the point at which it can start to accelerate its reforms. However, it could take up to 2 years after legislation is enacted before GBR be Type: recommendation | Number: 4 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented Prior to the 2024 General Election, the department was focused on delivering the reforms which could be progressed ahead of legislation, in line with the 2021 Plan for Rail. Progr