The future ‘directing mind’ Great British Railways has been described in more detail than before as part of a consultation launched today by the Department for Transport.

Key points include that ‘passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and arrive at GBR stations – all run by the expert leadership of a single organisation in line with a clear strategic direction set by the Secretary of State’.

Some existing railway industry organisations will no longer be needed, or have new duties.

GBR will decide track access charges for the remaining third-party operators, and it will be possible for them to appeal to the Office of Rail and Road. GBR will also work ‘in close partnership’ with the private sector, while the Department for Transport will ‘step back from day-to-day involvement in the railway’.

The Office of Rail and Road will concentrate on safety and efficiency. The ORR will no longer approve access or direct the sale of access rights for the GBR railway and will not set standard access terms for GBR.

Third party operators will  have ‘fair access’ to the network, and GBR will have a statutory duty to promote rail freight. Third party ticket retailing will continue, but the industry functions currently managed by the Rail Delivery Group, including retailing, will be taken over by GBR as part of its ‘simplified sector structure’. 

There will be the promised ‘new voice for passengers’ in the shape of a new passenger watchdog which will able to hold both GBR and non-GBR operators to account.

This body would moderate unresolved passenger complaints and resolve disputes, which at the moment is the responsibility of the Rail Ombudsman. The Ombudsman could cease to do this, or alternatively it could be sponsored by the new watchdog instead of the ORR. The DfT also says there is ‘potential for the new watchdog to be built from the existing passenger watchdog Transport Focus’.

The proposed new funding process will ‘take the best of e current periodic review and control period system’, and core settlements will still last for five years. The ORR will continue to monitor business plans and the practicality of settlements.

The system of train driver training will be modernised, with ‘outdated criteria’ being modernised ‘to reflect new innovations, technology and scientific developments’.

The consultation runs until 23.59 on 15 April.

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