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Select committee: Transport Committee

4th Special Report - Railways Bill: Government Response

Published 24 April 2026

Transport Committee Railways Bill Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance

The government's response

This document responds to 8th Report - Railways Bill.

This is the government's response, published 24 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.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Sources