Select committee: Transport Committee
Conclusion 2
8th Report - Railways Bill
Published 10 Feb 2026
Addressed to Department for Transport
Transport Committee Railways Bill All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Understandably, and as with previous railways legislation, the Railways Bill gives a partial picture of the framework for a new regime under Great British Railways. The Bill is designed to last a long time and is accompanied by various additional documentation. The unpublished documents are important not just for scrutiny, but for confidence throughout the industry. This inquiry has picked up on issues that may be addressed in future documentation, such as issues of accountability and enforcement, the independence of the Passengers’ Council, and the potential truly to improve on rail accessibility, but this list cannot be treated as exhaustive—there may be other unintended consequences, conflicts or omissions that we are yet to be able to identify. (Conclusion, Paragraph 6)
From: Transport Committee, 8th Report - Railways Bill (HC 1472), 10 February 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 24 April 2026 (deadline 10 April 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government welcomes the Committee's report and supports the Bill's main purpose, but on many recommendations it agrees only in part, notes them or disagrees that amending the Bill is needed.
- On timelines, it agrees with Recommendation 1 and is "happy to commit to publishing a document this Spring" outlining key documents and target dates.
- On the Long Term Rail Strategy, it partially agrees and disagrees the Bill is the place for more detail, but will publish a discussion document alongside Bill passage through the House of Lords.
- On the Secretary of State's power of direction (clause 7), it partially agrees but disagrees that amending the Bill is necessary, citing existing precedent and public law.
- On GBR's licence, it "will aim to publish" a policy document on the draft licence's contents before Commons Report Stage, with full consultation beginning later this year.