Great British Railways moves closer as Railways Bill clears Commons

The legislation that will pave the way for the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) has cleared the House of Commons, marking a major milestone in the government's plans to overhaul Britain's rail network.

The Railways Bill completed its third reading on 10 June and will now move to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before becoming law.

Among the amendments approved by MPs was a government-backed provision that formally requires Great British Railways to remain publicly owned. Ministers say the change is designed to prevent future governments from privatising GBR without new primary legislation.

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy and Rail Minister Simon Lightwood have previously argued that a unified, publicly owned railway will simplify decision-making, improve accountability and create a more integrated network for passengers and freight users.

Speaking during the debate, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the legislation would deliver the most significant rail reform in a generation.

“For years, the industry delivered poorer performance for higher prices,” she told MPs.

“We have had 30 reviews since 2006, all diagnosing the same problem. Thanks to this Bill, we will deliver the biggest reform to our railways in 30 years.”

Alexander said the new organisation would replace fragmentation with integration, creating a single body responsible for infrastructure, operations and long-term planning.

She added that while improvements would not happen overnight, GBR would be focused on delivering better outcomes for both passengers and freight customers.

The government argues that bringing track and train closer together will reduce inefficiencies created by the current structure and provide clearer accountability across the network.

However, opposition parties continue to raise concerns about the proposed model.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden criticised the reforms, arguing they risk increasing costs for taxpayers while reducing competition.

He questioned the future role of open-access operators and warned that Great British Railways could become both operator and regulator within the same system.

“If the government truly believe in putting passengers first, why are they making life harder for the very operators that have delivered some of the lowest fares and highest levels of passenger satisfaction on the entire network?” he said.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Olly Glover also voiced concerns, arguing that the legislation risks creating a highly centralised organisation without sufficient safeguards against bureaucracy.

The Bill arrives at a critical point for the rail industry, with several operators already transitioning into public ownership ahead of GBR's planned launch in 2027.

Recent examples include South Western Railway and c2c, while other operators are expected to follow as existing contracts expire.

If approved by the House of Lords, the legislation will establish Great British Railways as the guiding body for Britain's rail network, bringing together responsibilities currently split across Network Rail, the Department for Transport and train operating companies.

The government believes the reforms will create a simpler, more reliable railway, while critics argue the success of GBR will ultimately depend on whether it can deliver tangible improvements in performance, reliability and passenger experience.