Rail reform: the rail transformation programme

Over the next year, DfT should develop its understanding of how it can
successfully deliver rail reform, including any potential pilots it could
undertake, so that it is well placed to advise ministers early in the next
Parliament. This work should include areas such as:
? conducting a lessons learned exercise from its planning and delivery
of rail reform to date; and
? drawing on lessons from other programmes, including those set out
in our lessons learned reports on major programmes.

DfT and GBRTT should work closely with the rail sector to continue building
culture change and support a ?whole systems? approach to the rail sector
ahead of any legislative changes

After the current interim work, and when DfT comes to fully resetting rail
reform in the future, it should ensure it:
? has secured full commitment across government for its ambitions for
rail reform;
? has agreed its scope and overall delivery approach with key stakeholders;
? has in place a full delivery plan, including a realistic timetable, clarity about
the benefits it will deliver and how it will deliver them, and the skills and
capacity it and GBRTT require to support the programme. HM Treasury
should also satisfy itself that delivery is achievable before linking it to
any future spending review settlements, taking into account the level
of delivery risk it will accept when setting stretching savings targets;
? clearly communicates its delivery plan for wider stakeholders in the
rail sector; and
? assesses the progress made in improving the roles and responsibilities
and wider joint working culture between bodies, and establishes delivery
and governance arrangements that build on what has been successful
and that will support the scale of the programme

If DfT aims to deliver reform at speed in the future, it should fully assess the
benefits of this approach and the risks to implementation and ensure there
are contingencies in place. In making decisions about whether to proceed
at pace, it should draw on the lessons highlighted in our work on delivering
programmes at speed