The government is taking a major step towards reforming Britain’s railways, with new legislation to establish Great British Railways (GBR) being introduced to Parliament.

The Railways Bill will create a publicly owned organisation responsible for overseeing both passenger services and rail infrastructure. Bringing together track and train under one guide, GBR will simplify management and improve reliability to deliver better value for money.

GBR will be based in Derby and will be accountable to passengers, freight customers and taxpayers. It will coordinate the planning and delivery of services across the network which is supported by a new digital platform allowing passengers to plan journeys and buy tickets through a single platform.

Public ownership is improving outcomes across the network. Southeastern and LNER rank among the top five operators nationally for the lowest cancellation rates, South Western Railway has increased the number of new trains in service since entering public ownership.

GBR will have a statutory duty to support the growth of rail freight, enabling longer-term business planning and more efficient use of network capacity. The legislation will also give devolved governments and England’s mayors a greater role in shaping services locally to strengthen regional connectivity.

Alongside the Bill, the government aims to publish an Accessibility Roadmap setting out steps to improve services for disabled passengers ahead of GBR’s establishment. This includes expanding eligibility for Disabled Persons Railcars, extending Welcome Points across stations, improving staff training, and maintaining essential infrastructure such as lifts and escalators.

Blake Richmond, CEO at Resonate Group commented: “The railway network is a central driver of UK growth, creating jobs, opportunities and boosting productivity across the country, so continued investment and accountability is a welcome move.

The introduction of Great British Railways as an accountable organisation will supplement existing rail infrastructure, helping maintain the success of high-performing networks, while supporting the continued improvement of the UK’s rail system.”

He added: “Putting passengers first involved faster, easier ticketing services, enhanced scheduling, and reduced disruptions to ensure greater reliability across networks and help people get from A to B on time. Technology has a vital role to play here, from modern signalling to data-driven connectivity, optimising network performance and delivering a more reliable, intelligent, and passenger-focussed railway.”