Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Thirty-Eighth Report - Rail reform: The rail transformation programme
Public Accounts Committee
HC 652
Published 27 May 2024
Conclusions (5)
7
Conclusion
Government and industry reviews of the railways over the past two decades have identified similar problems to the Williams review.11 We asked the Department why these reviews had failed to lead to improvements. It said that reviews have not always looked at the whole of the railway in its entirety …
12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Improving accessibility runs throughout the Department’s reform ambitions and is one of the 62 commitments included in its White Paper: ‘The first robust national accessibility strategy and long-term investment programme will improve inclusion and access for all.’25 Even earlier than its White Paper commitment, the Department 18 Q 44 19 …
Government Response Summary
This conclusion references the Department's prior commitments to improving access. The government's response is the same as for IDs 7080 and 7081.
13
Conclusion
Not Addressed
We asked the Department about the passenger improvements it has made for disabled passengers and people who find accessibility an issue. The Department recognised that it needs to make sure the railway works for disabled passengers, and that accessibility is going to increase in importance with demographic changes. The Department …
Government Response Summary
This conclusion references a consultation on a national rail accessibility strategy and the example of Leagrave station. The government's response is the same as for IDs 7081 and 7079.
16
Conclusion
We asked the Department for clarity around how the new contracts would work. The Department told us that it is in the process of developing a further version of national rail contracts, designed to further encourage growth in revenue and passengers, and focus on the passenger experience. It said that …
18
Conclusion
The Department intended that Great British Railways (GBR) would act as the ‘guiding mind’ for the railways, with responsibility for the whole rail system.40 But the Department and HM Treasury disagreed on key areas of rail reform from the start, including GBR’s remit and level of independence, the extent to …