The creation of a new public sector body to oversee Britain’s railways will simplify a system that is “too complicated”, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.
Great British Railways (GBR) will own and manage rail infrastructure, issue contracts to private firms to run trains, set most fares and timetables, and sell tickets.
It will absorb Network Rail in a bid to end what the Department for Transport (DfT) branded a “blame-game system” between train and track operations when disruption occurs.
Mr Shapps said during the 2018 timetable fiasco there was no “Fat Controller” in charge of the system, referencing the Thomas The Tank Engine stories.
Rail union leaders and politicians today attacked the reform plans, accusing the Government of merely papering over the cracks , while Labour said it raised more questions than answers.
The creation of a new public sector body to oversee Britain’s railways will simplify a system that is “too complicated”, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.
Great British Railways (GBR) will own and manage rail infrastructure, issue contracts to private firms to run trains, set most fares and timetables, and sell tickets.
It will absorb Network Rail in a bid to end what the Department for Transport (DfT) branded a “blame-game system” between train and track operations when disruption occurs.
Mr Shapps said during the 2018 timetable fiasco there was no “Fat Controller” in charge of the system, referencing the Thomas The Tank Engine stories.
UK train travel to be overhauled by new body Great British Railways
Thu, 20th May 2021 05:43
(Alliance News) - Control of trains and track will be brought under a new public sector body named Great British Railways as part of sweeping reforms, the Department for Transport has announced.
The organisation will own and manage rail infrastructure, issue contracts to private firms to run trains, set most fares and timetables, and sell tickets.
It will absorb Network Rail in a bid to end the current blame-game system between train and track operations when disruption occurs.
The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail has been published as a white paper.
Nicola Sturgeon s government says it is being ignored by Boris Johnson HOLYROOD and Westminster are on a collision course over UK Government plans to overhaul control of the railways. Downing Street has announced a new body, Great British Railways (GBR), will take over responsibility for both tracks and trains. Despite the name, GBR will primarily operate in England, where it will set timetables and prices and sell tickets. It will also manage rail infrastructure in other parts of the UK. It will absorb Network Rail in a bid to end what the Department for Transport branded a blame-game system between train and track operations when disruption occurs.