Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted in Part
Include more detail within the Bill on the Long Term Rail Strategy's mandatory content.
Recommendation
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)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government will update the Explanatory Notes accompanying the Bill to clarify that the list of areas the Passengers' Council may consider when setting passenger standards is not exhaustive.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. The Government welcomes the conclusion drawn by the Committee that the clarity provided by a Long Term Rail Strategy (LTRS) will have “benefits [...] in terms of efficiency, planning for rail infrastructure and clarity for the wider economy”. This is precisely the Government’s intention, and we agree with the view of the Committee that the greater the clarity provided by the strategy on long term strategic objectives, the greater the benefits will be. This is precisely why we have mandated the requirement for the LTRS within primary legislation. It is a critical driver of our vision for the reformed railway. Whilst the Government does not agree the Bill is the place to provide this detail due to the rigidity and enduring nature of legislation, in recognition of the desire from the Committee and wider industry, the Government will publish a discussion document providing more detail on what the LTRS will include alongside Bill passage through the House of Lords. This will ensure clarity and certainty for the sector providing confidence and direction as we establish GBR.
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