Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
1
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
The UK rail network is a core national asset, supporting its own industrial ecosystem and underpinning broader economic growth and employment. The message from the rail industry has been clear: investment in that asset has too often been characterised by cycles of ‘boom and bust’, with uneven and uncertain funding …
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The UK rail network is a core national asset, supporting its own industrial ecosystem and underpinning broader economic growth and employment. The message from the rail industry has been clear: investment in that asset has too often been characterised by cycles of ‘boom and bust’, with uneven and uncertain funding and procurement putting the viability of employers (including SMEs) at risk and delaying much-needed improvements to the network. The capacity of the railway to flourish under Great British Railways would be undermined by a weakened rail industry sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 9)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of investment stability and reducing volatility in the rail industry, and states that it will strengthen how it communicates and manages the rail investment portfolio by improving the cadence, clarity and consistency of public information.
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Department for Transport
2
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
Even major programmes which should be providing a pipeline of large-scale work far into the future have previously been subject to radical changes of scope and timetable. The January 2026 announcement about Northern Powerhouse Rail brings great expectations—but at present, few confirmed details. The announcement of new investment is hugely …
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Even major programmes which should be providing a pipeline of large-scale work far into the future have previously been subject to radical changes of scope and timetable. The January 2026 announcement about Northern Powerhouse Rail brings great expectations—but at present, few confirmed details. The announcement of new investment is hugely welcome, but the industry needs that spending to be steady, carefully sequenced and clearly communicated to deliver the best results for passengers and the economy. (Conclusion, Paragraph 10) The need for a steady and stable pipeline
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the concern that instability in rail investment can increase costs but does not accept rail investment has been characterised by systemic "boom and bust" cycles.
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Department for Transport
3
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
There is a widespread consensus that establishing a smooth and stable pipeline of investment would bring manifold benefits to both the railway and the rail supply industry. With more certainty and visibility of upcoming work, and fewer peaks and troughs, resources could be allocated more effectively, capabilities could be maintained …
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There is a widespread consensus that establishing a smooth and stable pipeline of investment would bring manifold benefits to both the railway and the rail supply industry. With more certainty and visibility of upcoming work, and fewer peaks and troughs, resources could be allocated more effectively, capabilities could be maintained and projects could be delivered more quickly and at a lower cost. The boom and bust pattern of electrification is a conspicuous example of where this planning has been lacking, leading to losses of capability, poor value for money—and a network that is still only 39 per cent electrified. (Conclusion, Paragraph 37) 49
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Government response AI summary
The Government agrees that electrification remains a key tool in the decarbonisation of rail and that long-term clarity is important for industry confidence. However, the Government does not consider that a fixed route- kilometre target would represent the most effective mechanism.
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Department for Transport
4
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
A steady pipeline would support jobs at all levels of the supply chain, facilitate workforce planning, help industry address skills shortages and foster innovation. Success stories from Scotland, where there has been greater certainty of future workload, show the relationship between steady investment and industry’s ability to invest in its …
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A steady pipeline would support jobs at all levels of the supply chain, facilitate workforce planning, help industry address skills shortages and foster innovation. Success stories from Scotland, where there has been greater certainty of future workload, show the relationship between steady investment and industry’s ability to invest in its people and provide high- quality employment. (Conclusion, Paragraph 38)
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Government response AI summary
The Government agrees with the Committee’s emphasis on integration and is already working with operators and delivery partners on upcoming fleet replacement programmes to ensure that infrastructure requirements are considered from the outset. They also agree that the national train fleet needs to be simplified.
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Department for Transport
5
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
Injection of private sector investment into rail assets, including track and other infrastructure, has been hindered by the lack of a clear, credible pipeline of projects and a failure by Government to identify where such investment would be welcomed and could best contribute. There is also a need for a …
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Injection of private sector investment into rail assets, including track and other infrastructure, has been hindered by the lack of a clear, credible pipeline of projects and a failure by Government to identify where such investment would be welcomed and could best contribute. There is also a need for a better framework to allow regional and mayoral authorities to identify opportunities where alignment of funding, priorities and business case processes is expected to be achievable. A rail investment pipeline should clearly highlight opportunities and mechanisms for private and public sector funders alike to invest in. (Conclusion, Paragraph 39) How well do existing tools work?
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Government response AI summary
The Government agrees that transparency is important and that industry benefits from clear forward visibility. Rather than relying on infrequent static documents, the Government is moving towards more regular, structured and accessible publication of the enhancements portfolio.
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Department for Transport
6
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
The five-year funding settlement provided through the Control Period process, which is set to be continued through Funding Period Reviews, gives a reasonable degree of certainty and visibility of spend on operations, maintenance and renewals. Nonetheless, the mechanism could be improved. Spending profiles for particular categories of work can be …
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The five-year funding settlement provided through the Control Period process, which is set to be continued through Funding Period Reviews, gives a reasonable degree of certainty and visibility of spend on operations, maintenance and renewals. Nonetheless, the mechanism could be improved. Spending profiles for particular categories of work can be uneven and delays to contracting at the start of a new Control Period can cause damaging uncertainty. It is apparent that industry experienced significant disruption to volumes of work and continuity of contracting at the beginning of Control Period 7. (Conclusion, Paragraph 58)
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Government response AI summary
The Government is clear that Spending Review settlements do not constitute project-by-project approvals. Enhancements funding is deliberately provided at portfolio level through Spending Reviews, following detailed bids informed by strategic priorities and robust scheme forecasts.
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Department for Transport
7
Recommendation
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
We recommend that the Government commission an independent review of the beginning of Control Period 7 in comparison to the beginning of previous Control Periods. The review should also survey the volatility of spend within Control Periods, identify whether this is systemic, and consider whether they could be better managed …
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We recommend that the Government commission an independent review of the beginning of Control Period 7 in comparison to the beginning of previous Control Periods. The review should also survey the volatility of spend within Control Periods, identify whether this is systemic, and consider whether they could be better managed to smooth the flow of work. It should seek early lessons from the new partnership model being pursued in the Southern region, and consider whether more certainty could be provided on a five-year rolling basis. This review should be published in advance of the establishment of Great British Railways, so that the new organisation is able to act on key findings from the outset. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that any pipeline must distinguish between funded commitments and earlier-stage proposals, and states that funding is normally committed only to the next stage of development.
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Department for Transport
10
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
The delay or withdrawal of immature schemes is disruptive for industry and disappointing for communities who expected to benefit from new or upgraded facilities and services. It erodes confidence in the ability of the system to prioritise the right projects, identify what is viable, match it to supply chain capability, …
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The delay or withdrawal of immature schemes is disruptive for industry and disappointing for communities who expected to benefit from new or upgraded facilities and services. It erodes confidence in the ability of the system to prioritise the right projects, identify what is viable, match it to supply chain capability, and secure the necessary funding. (Conclusion, Paragraph 68)
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Government response AI summary
The Government agrees that credible visibility is essential for both the supply chain and private investors, and recognises the increasing role of Devolved Administrations and local partners.
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Department for Transport
11
Recommendation
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
The RNEP should set out clearly how much funding has been committed, from what sources, and for the purpose of reaching which milestones. It should provide certainty at least five years into the future on a rolling basis, with an indicative pipeline of up to 15 years beyond that. (Recommendation, …
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The RNEP should set out clearly how much funding has been committed, from what sources, and for the purpose of reaching which milestones. It should provide certainty at least five years into the future on a rolling basis, with an indicative pipeline of up to 15 years beyond that. (Recommendation, Paragraph 69)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the importance of devolved and regional partners in shaping and delivering rail investment and states that the RNEP is designed to allow schemes to progress independently with potential to enter the national portfolio at any stage.
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Department for Transport
16
Recommendation
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
While we recognise the fledging status of the UK Infrastructure Pipeline, we are unconvinced of its current usefulness to stakeholders in the rail industry because of its lack of detail at the necessary scale. We ask the Department for Transport to set out how the UK Infrastructure Pipeline will relate …
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While we recognise the fledging status of the UK Infrastructure Pipeline, we are unconvinced of its current usefulness to stakeholders in the rail industry because of its lack of detail at the necessary scale. We ask the Department for Transport to set out how the UK Infrastructure Pipeline will relate to the RNEP, the purpose of each, and where industry should look for the latest and most detailed information. Wherever there are overlapping sources of information, care is needed to ensure that these are congruent, complementary and up to date. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that transparency is important and the industry benefits from clear forward visibility and is moving towards more regular, structured and accessible publication of the enhancements portfolio, outlining multiple mechanisms to provide certainty and visibility.
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Department for Transport
24
Conclusion
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
We welcome the Government’s recognition that industry fragmentation has contributed to siloed decision-making and misaligned incentives between stakeholders, and its commitment to establishing a whole- system organisation, Great British Railways, to tackle this. We look forward to holding GBR and Ministers accountable for delivering on the promise of better and …
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We welcome the Government’s recognition that industry fragmentation has contributed to siloed decision-making and misaligned incentives between stakeholders, and its commitment to establishing a whole- system organisation, Great British Railways, to tackle this. We look forward to holding GBR and Ministers accountable for delivering on the promise of better and more integrated investment decisions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 117)
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the provision for a Long Term Rail Strategy in the Railways Bill, stating it's long overdue and should provide a basis for consensus and certainty.
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Department for Transport
25
Recommendation
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
The advent of Great British Railways provides a golden opportunity for decision-makers on the railway to approach investment planning differently. Successive governments must be prepared to commit to reaching a long-term consensus on which investments should be prioritised, and to following through on those decisions. While we accept the legitimacy …
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The advent of Great British Railways provides a golden opportunity for decision-makers on the railway to approach investment planning differently. Successive governments must be prepared to commit to reaching a long-term consensus on which investments should be prioritised, and to following through on those decisions. While we accept the legitimacy of different political choices about how to allocate public resources, chopping and changing decisions on infrastructure investment is almost always an irresponsible use of those resources in the long term. It will require self-restraint from the politicians who oversee GBR long into the future to resist tinkering with pipelines to satisfy short-term goals, and to recognise the value of consistent investment over the long term. (Conclusion, Paragraph 118)
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the provision for a Long Term Rail Strategy in the Railways Bill, stating it's long overdue and should provide a basis for consensus and certainty.
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Department for Transport
26
Recommendation
7th Report - Rail investment pipelines:…
Acknowledged
The Long Term Rail Strategy guiding Great British Railways needs to have a timescale of at least 30 years to provide the necessary vision for underpinning shorter-term decisions on specific projects and funding. It also needs to be protected from unnecessary or radical changes of direction that would undermine its …
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The Long Term Rail Strategy guiding Great British Railways needs to have a timescale of at least 30 years to provide the necessary vision for underpinning shorter-term decisions on specific projects and funding. It also needs to be protected from unnecessary or radical changes of direction that would undermine its value. Significant amendments to the LTRS should require formal consultation with industry and with Parliament. We recommend that the Secretary of State be required to lay the Strategy before Parliament, and that, where the Secretary of State makes substantive changes, it be required to be laid again in its amended form. (Recommendation, Paragraph 119)
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the provision for a Long Term Rail Strategy in the Railways Bill, stating it's long overdue and should provide a basis for consensus and certainty.
Read full response →
Department for Transport