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Rail Regulation and Performance Standards

The Department for Transport and Office of Rail and Road are establishing regulatory frameworks and performance standards for Great Britain Railways (GBR) and the rail network, including passenger service quality, franchise arrangements, and long-term strategic planning. The Railways (Franchises) Bill and related legislation are progressing through Parliament with recommendations to strengthen performance monitoring mechanisms, clarify the Long Term Rail Strategy, and ensure the ORR can effectively enforce passenger interest duties against GBR.

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2026

11 events
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to frontline rail staff responsible for passenger information and safety-critical communicatio

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what minimum English language proficiency requirements apply to frontline rail staff responsible for passenger information and safety-critical communications; and whether her Department or the Office of Rail an

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29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport Context · primary home: Railways and Passenger Benefi… linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking under GBR to increase cross border rail connections, such as the Wrexham-Shropshire-Midlands Railway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking under GBR to increase cross border rail connections, such as the Wrexham-Shropshire-Midlands Railway.

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29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 Apr 2026 to Question 127105, what the outcomes of each of the Rail Engagement Group's meetings were; and whether her Departmen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 Apr 2026 to Question 127105, what the outcomes of each of the Rail Engagement Group's meetings were; and whether her Department plans to take steps as …

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28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) timeline, and (2) key milestones, of the changes to passenger rail fares, including integrated contactless ticketing in city regions, as set out in Bett

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) timeline, and (2) key milestones, of the changes to passenger rail fares, including integrated contactless ticketing in city regions, as set out in Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport, publ

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28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport Context · primary home: Railways and Passenger Benefi… linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how competition regulations on state aid are applied by the Office of Rail and Road when assessing applications for Open Access rail services; and what cha

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how competition regulations on state aid are applied by the Office of Rail and Road when assessing applications for Open Access rail services; and what changes are expected following the ORR's move …

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, if she will develop new Outline Business Cases for a) the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and b)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, if she will develop new Outline Business Cases for a) the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and b) Haughley Junction upgrades and …

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10 Feb 2026 | Committee report linked

The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline should be revamped and updated, taking account of all the decisions made by the Government on enhancements since July 2024. It should then be revised and re-published at least annually. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67)

The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline should be revamped and updated, taking account of all the decisions made by the Government on enhancements since July 2024. It should then be revised and re-published at least annually. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67) Type: conclusion …

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10 Feb 2026 | Committee report linked

More detail in the Bill on what the Long Term Rail Strategy must include would help to ensure the document is meaningful and useful, and that it gives a measure of clarity and certainty. (Recommendation, Paragraph 26)

More detail in the Bill on what the Long Term Rail Strategy must include would help to ensure the document is meaningful and useful, and that it gives a measure of clarity and certainty. (Recommendation, Paragraph 26) Type: conclusion | …

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10 Feb 2026 | Committee report linked

We are concerned that there is no specific mechanism to assess GBR’s performance against the passenger interest duty placed on it by the Bill. The standards set by the Passengers’ Council will be part of GBR’s licence, enforced by the ORR. The Bill should also contain a mechanism for performance against the relevant standards to be taken into account by a court making a judgment on whether the duty to promote the interests of users in clause 18(2)a has been met. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)

We are concerned that there is no specific mechanism to assess GBR’s performance against the passenger interest duty placed on it by the Bill. The standards set by the Passengers’ Council will be part of GBR’s licence, enforced by the …

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10 Feb 2026 | Committee report linked

Standards set by the Passengers’ Council will be a crucial tool in improving the passenger experience of the railways. The Government clearly intends the Council to set such standards, so it is odd that the Bill only confers on it the power to do so rather than requiring this to happen; the Bill should be amended to this effect. The Government’s intention that the Council be able to set standards in areas other than passenger information, compensation, 34 complaints and accessibility should b...

Standards set by the Passengers’ Council will be a crucial tool in improving the passenger experience of the railways. The Government clearly intends the Council to set such standards, so it is odd that the Bill only confers on it …

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2024

6 events
27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

There has been too little focus on passengers and taxpayers and how to get them a better deal. The Department claims that improving passenger experience is at the heart of its reform plans, but poor performance persists across the rail network. In 2022–23, 13.7% of trains were delayed and 3.8% were cancelled. While the Department is fully aware of what is important to passengers, it has not delivered on the basic things that matter most. Taxpayers also continue to subsidise passenger rail ser...

There has been too little focus on passengers and taxpayers and how to get them a better deal. The Department claims that improving passenger experience is at the heart of its reform plans, but poor performance persists across the rail …

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27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The rail sector’s performance for passengers and the taxpayer is not good enough and has not been for some time.13 The Office of Rail and Road reported 3.8% of trains were classified as cancelled in 2022–23, along with 86.3% of trains arriving at their final destination on time, meaning that 13.7% were delayed. These levels of performance in 2022–23 were at or worse than levels in 2019–20.14 ‘Passengers must receive high-quality, consistent services day in, day out’ was one of the ten key out...

The rail sector’s performance for passengers and the taxpayer is not good enough and has not been for some time.13 The Office of Rail and Road reported 3.8% of trains were classified as cancelled in 2022–23, along with 86.3% of …

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27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Department told us that the pandemic presented a fundamental challenge to sustainably funding the railways and that the financial pressures have driven a stronger focus to look at the whole system and improve performance, both financially and for passengers.21 The pandemic also exposed the scale of challenge on costs. Network Rail told us that, in previous years, despite excessive costs in the system “the top revenue line was growing. It took the imperative out of the system [to focus on ...

The Department told us that the pandemic presented a fundamental challenge to sustainably funding the railways and that the financial pressures have driven a stronger focus to look at the whole system and improve performance, both financially and for passengers.21 …

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27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

We asked the Department what we can expect to see within the next six months that will make a difference and improve the passenger experience. The Department provided examples such as the Great British Rail sales, roll out and trialling of more pay-as-you- go technology for customers in various parts of the country, and accessibility audits of stations. But we pointed out that it is the basic things like reliability and punctuality that matter much more to passengers than the projects the Dep...

We asked the Department what we can expect to see within the next six months that will make a difference and improve the passenger experience. The Department provided examples such as the Great British Rail sales, roll out and trialling …

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27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

We asked the Department for its views on the current commentary around GBR and the balance between it acting as a guiding or directing mind. The Department said it is important to find the right balance between the guiding mind who is guiding but also who is prepared to stand up and take the accountability to fix those things. Network Rail’s view was that, in an increasingly devolved United Kingdom, the idea of a central, directing mind telling people in Scotland, Wales, London and other mayo...

We asked the Department for its views on the current commentary around GBR and the balance between it acting as a guiding or directing mind. The Department said it is important to find the right balance between the guiding mind …

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27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

Network Rail told us about its good, constructive relationships with trade unions which have allowed it to achieve workforce efficiency and productivity savings of around £775 million.53 They provided examples of headcount reductions from losing around 2,500 managers, work reductions whereby technology means they no longer use people for certain tasks, and improvements in productivity through changes to terms and conditions.54 47 C&AG’s Report, para 2.5 48 C&AG’s Report, para 8 49 Q 43 50 Qq ...

Network Rail told us about its good, constructive relationships with trade unions which have allowed it to achieve workforce efficiency and productivity savings of around £775 million.53 They provided examples of headcount reductions from losing around 2,500 managers, work reductions …

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2023

3 events
30 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government made various commitments in the National Bus Strategy that we welcomed, as did many in the bus sector. It said it would provide new guidance on socially and economically necessary services and on bus franchising. It also suggested it would consider introducing a statutory requirement on local authorities to provide services deemed socially or economically necessary and look again at the ban on new municipal bus companies. Two years on, none of these things have happened and the...

The Government made various commitments in the National Bus Strategy that we welcomed, as did many in the bus sector. It said it would provide new guidance on socially and economically necessary services and on bus franchising. It also suggested …

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30 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

For too many years the story of buses in England outside London has been one of managed decline. The publication of the National Bus Strategy represented an opportunity to change that. It was ambitious, full of good ideas and supported by extra much-needed funding. So far, though, despite lots of positive rhetoric and some welcome action, the promised transformation has not been achieved. We believe it is still possible, but that will require the Government to maintain its focus on buses rath...

For too many years the story of buses in England outside London has been one of managed decline. The publication of the National Bus Strategy represented an opportunity to change that. It was ambitious, full of good ideas and supported …

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30 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government should set out clearly how it plans to evaluate the success of the National Bus Strategy across its various strands. It should also set out an indicative timescale for the scoping, consultation, and publication of future iterations of the Strategy.

The Government should set out clearly how it plans to evaluate the success of the National Bus Strategy across its various strands. It should also set out an indicative timescale for the scoping, consultation, and publication of future iterations of …

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2022

1 event
27 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

We ask the Government to commit to supporting redevelopment of Leeds station by 2035 so that it has sufficient capacity to accommodate services planned under the IRP, including HS2 trains arriving in Leeds.

We ask the Government to commit to supporting redevelopment of Leeds station by 2035 so that it has sufficient capacity to accommodate services planned under the IRP, including HS2 trains arriving in Leeds. Type: conclusion | Number: 14 | Paragraph: …

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2021

14 events
29 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

We welcome the ambition in the recent national bus strategy to increase bus usage and ensure cheaper and more reliable bus services across the country. In particular, we welcome its promise to give local authorities more control over bus services, either by agreeing Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators or by seeking franchising powers like those enjoyed by Transport for London. It must be acknowledged, however, that franchising will be expensive. We also commend the Department for Transpo...

We welcome the ambition in the recent national bus strategy to increase bus usage and ensure cheaper and more reliable bus services across the country. In particular, we welcome its promise to give local authorities more control over bus services, …

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14 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented challenge to the rail network and rail operators across the UK. Significant investment has been required from governments to keep services operational at a time when many workers have had to work from home as a consequence of the pandemic. The medium to longer term implications of the pandemic for work habits, namely whether it will result in a permanent shift towards working from home, at least on a more frequent basis, are hard to predict at this stage. H...

COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented challenge to the rail network and rail operators across the UK. Significant investment has been required from governments to keep services operational at a time when many workers have had to work from home as …

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14 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

We are concerned that Covid-19 should not be used as a pretext for halting investment which, in the long term, would only further cement the car as the transport mode of choice in Wales. Instead this should be an opportunity for the Department for Transport, Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and Network Rail to take stock and consider the role of rail Wales’s future transport network. Using the Wales Rail Board we have recommended, this process should: • establish immediate infrastructure...

We are concerned that Covid-19 should not be used as a pretext for halting investment which, in the long term, would only further cement the car as the transport mode of choice in Wales. Instead this should be an opportunity …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

In recent years, we have identified serious failings in the rail system, and the Department must now overcome significant long-standing issues to bring about complex reform. We have previously reported on the problems inherent in the rail system, such as: poor performance and reliability of the network; the lack of accountability and Departmental oversight and the Department’s poor management of franchises. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges, not least the collapse in pas...

In recent years, we have identified serious failings in the rail system, and the Department must now overcome significant long-standing issues to bring about complex reform. We have previously reported on the problems inherent in the rail system, such as: …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

As well as providing critical revenue for the rail system, passenger rail travel supports wider government objectives around transport decarbonisation and achieving net zero. We asked the Department how they planned to encourage people out of their cars onto rail. It outlined current activities by the Rail Revenue Recovery Group, including communications and marketing activities to reassure passengers over rail travel safety and improving the information available to passengers.15 In addition...

As well as providing critical revenue for the rail system, passenger rail travel supports wider government objectives around transport decarbonisation and achieving net zero. We asked the Department how they planned to encourage people out of their cars onto rail. …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

We have previously reported on the problems inherent in the rail system which have led to poor performance and reliability of the network. Even before the pandemic, we and the Transport Committee had reported on the Department’s franchising model and concluded that it was a broken model.21 We reported in 2018 that the Department’s management of two important franchises (the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern and East Coast franchises) had been inadequate and were likely indicative of wid...

We have previously reported on the problems inherent in the rail system which have led to poor performance and reliability of the network. Even before the pandemic, we and the Transport Committee had reported on the Department’s franchising model and …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

We were interested to hear the Department’s views on the main issues caused by the rail system’s current structural organisation. The Department recognised that problems have emerged over a number of years, partly the result of poor alignment between Network Rail, responsible for rail infrastructure, and operators, responsible for delivering passenger services. The Department highlighted issues around missed opportunities to collaborate and a lack of strategic direction and accountability for...

We were interested to hear the Department’s views on the main issues caused by the rail system’s current structural organisation. The Department recognised that problems have emerged over a number of years, partly the result of poor alignment between Network …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

Specifically in relation to passenger service operations, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, private sector companies operated passenger services under a franchise model but still received some level of government funding. The amount of government funding provided to train operators has increased in recent years, changing from a net surplus paid to the Department to net a deficit paid to operators in 2018–19.34 In March 2020, the Department told us it made a “conscious choice” to keep rail servi...

Specifically in relation to passenger service operations, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, private sector companies operated passenger services under a franchise model but still received some level of government funding. The amount of government funding provided to train operators has …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

Our previous reports have covered some of the commercial difficulties caused by the Department’s franchising model. In the worst-case scenarios, issues such as over- optimistic assumptions of passenger growth led to severe operator losses and early contract terminations.39 These contract terminations accelerated the Department’s exposure to the commercial issues in the franchising system as, after termination, the Department is legally obliged to ensure continuity of passenger service; doing ...

Our previous reports have covered some of the commercial difficulties caused by the Department’s franchising model. In the worst-case scenarios, issues such as over- optimistic assumptions of passenger growth led to severe operator losses and early contract terminations.39 These contract …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department told us that electrifying the rail network is a key part of decarbonising and achieving net zero on the railway and that to ensure success, a steady long-term plan for electrification is needed. However, the Department acknowledged that its approach to electrification in recent years has reflected a “feast-and-famine” attitude.53 Data published by Network Rail shows a substantial range in annual track electrification undertaken since 1970, ranging from less than 10 track kilome...

The Department told us that electrifying the rail network is a key part of decarbonising and achieving net zero on the railway and that to ensure success, a steady long-term plan for electrification is needed. However, the Department acknowledged that …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

In the first year of Control Period 6 (2019–20), Network Rail exceeded its planned efficiency savings; achieving £385 million compared to £316 million expected.61 The Office of Rail and Road told us that Network Rail has improved its efficiency through the development of a bottom-up business plan which routes and regions are bought into.62

In the first year of Control Period 6 (2019–20), Network Rail exceeded its planned efficiency savings; achieving £385 million compared to £316 million expected.61 The Office of Rail and Road told us that Network Rail has improved its efficiency through …

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7 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

In 2020, the Office of Rail and Road reported inherent uncertainty in the value of some of the efficiency savings made by Network Rail in 2019–20.69 The Office of Rail and Road told us that it has now agreed a set of indicators with Network Rail which measure the likelihood of Network Rail meeting its efficiency targets for the Control Period. It also told us that Network Rail’s regional management information has improved, enabling a better understanding of relative performance. Despite thes...

In 2020, the Office of Rail and Road reported inherent uncertainty in the value of some of the efficiency savings made by Network Rail in 2019–20.69 The Office of Rail and Road told us that it has now agreed a …

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23 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Department commits to a 30-year rolling programme of electrification projects and sets this out in its long-term rail decarbonisation strategy.

We recommend that the Department commits to a 30-year rolling programme of electrification projects and sets this out in its long-term rail decarbonisation strategy. Type: recommendation | Number: 12 | Paragraph: 59 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: The Government …

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23 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We recommend that Network Rail and the ORR continue to explore the potential for an extension in third-rail electrification capability and that the Department, as the overall sponsor of rail decarbonisation, proactively monitors this development in Trains fit for the futuree 35 the event that Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road are unable to reach an agreement on whether to proceed with further third-rail electrification projects.”

We recommend that Network Rail and the ORR continue to explore the potential for an extension in third-rail electrification capability and that the Department, as the overall sponsor of rail decarbonisation, proactively monitors this development in Trains fit for the …

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