A bill to Make provision about railways and railway services; and for connected purposes.
Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Part 1 — The new regime for the railways¶
Chapter 1 — Great British Railways¶
Designation and status¶
1 Great British Railways¶
The Secretary of State may by regulations designate a body corporate as Great British Railways.2 Crown status etc¶
Functions¶
3 Functions¶
4 Exercise of functions of Scottish and Welsh Ministers¶
5 Co-operation with relevant local government bodies¶
6 Co-operation with Transport for London¶
(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) a reference to the functions of Great British Railways is to be read as a reference to Great British Railways’ statutory functions (within the meaning of the Railways Act 2026) in relation to railways in Greater London and London railway passenger and goods services.
Directions and guidance¶
7 Directions by Secretary of State¶
8 Directions by Scottish Ministers¶
9 Guidance by Secretary of State¶
10 Guidance by Scottish Ministers¶
Licensing¶
11 Licensing¶
Schedule 1 contains provision in relation to the licensing of Great British Railways.Financial arrangements etc¶
12 Funding¶
Schedule 2 contains provision in relation to funding the activities of Great British Railways.13 Charging and terms and conditions¶
14 Levy payable to ORR¶
Chapter 2 — Exercise of railway functions¶
Strategies and target¶
15 Rail strategy¶
16 Duty of Great British Railways and ORR to have regard to strategies etc¶
17 Rail freight target¶
Duties¶
18 General duties of Ministers, Great British Railways and ORR¶
19 Safety duty of Ministers and ORR¶
20 Competition duty of ORR¶
21 Duty of ORR to have regard to Secretary of State’s guidance¶
22 Duty of ORR to have regard to Scottish Ministers’ guidance¶
Scotland and Wales¶
23 Memorandum of understanding: Secretary of State and Scottish Ministers¶
24 Memorandum of understanding: Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers¶
Part 2 — Passenger and station services¶
Chapter 1 — Passenger services¶
Designation and exemption of services¶
25 Designation of services by Secretary of State¶
26 Designation of services by Scottish Ministers¶
27 Designation of services by Welsh Ministers¶
28 Exemption from designation: power of Secretary of State¶
29 Exemption from designation: powers of Scottish and Welsh Ministers¶
30 Exemption from designation: supplementary¶
Provision of services¶
31 Provision of railway passenger services¶
32 Contracts awarded under section 31: supplementary¶
Fares¶
33 Fares¶
34 Discount fare schemes¶
Interpretation¶
35 Interpretation of Chapter 1 of Part 2¶
In this Chapter—Chapter 2 — The Passengers’ Council¶
General¶
36 General duties of the Council¶
When exercising its functions relating to railways and railway services, the Passengers’ Council—37 Keeping matters under review and collecting information¶
38 Exercise of functions under section 37¶
Investigations¶
39 Investigations¶
40 Power to obtain information¶
41 Protection of confidential information¶
42 Representations and referrals¶
43 Reports¶
Complaints and dispute resolution¶
44 Complaints¶
The Passengers’ Council is designated as a body to which complaints may be made about an alleged infringement of Regulation (EC) No. 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2007 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations in relation to—45 Dispute resolution¶
The Passengers’ Council must establish and maintain a scheme under which an impartial person is available to resolve disputes between—Standards and improvement plans¶
46 Standards¶
47 Improvement plans¶
Other functions¶
48 Advice about railway passenger services and station services¶
49 Consultation about railway passenger services and station services¶
50 Publication of information and advice¶
Miscellaneous¶
51 Power to make exclusions¶
52 Interpretation of Chapter 2 of Part 2¶
Chapter 3 — The London Transport Users’ Committee¶
53 General duties of the LTUC¶
After section 252 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 insert—252ZA General railways duties of Committee
(1) When exercising its functions relating to railways and railway services, the Committee— (a) must have particular regard to the interests and needs of disabled persons, and (b) must take into account any costs that will need to be met from public funds, and the need to make efficient use of those funds. (2) In this section “disabled person” means a person who is a disabled person for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 (see section 6(2) and (4) of, and Schedule 28 to, that Act).
54 Collection of information by the LTUC¶
(1A) The Committee may, with a view to facilitating its functions under this section and sections 252B to 252DB, collect information with respect to matters affecting the interests of the public in relation to— (a) railway passenger services provided wholly or partly within the London railway area, and (b) station services provided within that area.
55 Investigations by the LTUC¶
,(aa) it is the subject of a representation made to the Committee by an organisation representative of users or potential users of railway passenger services;
.(ba) it relates to an alleged infringement of Regulation (EC) No. 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2007 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations, or
252BA Power to obtain information
(1) If the Committee is carrying out an investigation under section 252B, it may request a person who provides or operates railway passenger services or station services to provide any information which the Committee considers necessary for the purpose of carrying out the investigation. (2) The person must provide the information within a reasonable period specified by the Committee unless— (a) the person does not have the information and cannot reasonably obtain it, or (b) the provision of the information would impose an unreasonable burden on the person. (3) Before specifying a period for the purposes of subsection (2), the Committee must consult the person who is to be required to provide the information about the period that should be specified. (4) A person who relies on paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) must notify the Committee in writing of that fact, stating the reason why the paragraph in question applies. (5) If the Committee has requested information under this section and considers that it has not received a satisfactory response to that request— (a) the Committee may refer the matter to the Office of Rail and Road, and (b) the Office of Rail and Road may take such action (if any) as it thinks appropriate. (6) Subsection (2) of section 252A applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section. 252BB Protection of confidential information
(1) This section applies to any information provided to the Committee pursuant to section 252BA(2) if— (a) the person who provided the information has requested that the information be held in confidence, and (b) a person would not be entitled to the information in response to a request made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by virtue of the exemptions in section 41 or 43 of that Act. (2) Information to which this section applies must not— (a) be included in any investigation report published under section 252D, (b) be published under section 252DB, or (c) be disclosed by the Committee to any other person. (3) Nothing in this section affects— (a) any power of the Committee to disclose confidential information to the Secretary of State or the Office of Rail and Road in the course of representations or a referral made under section 252C, or (b) any obligation of the Committee to disclose information in order to comply with an order of a court or tribunal.
252C Action on investigation under section 252B
(1) Having investigated a matter under section 252B— (a) the Committee may make representations to such persons as it thinks appropriate for the purpose of achieving a satisfactory resolution of the matter, and (b) where the Committee has reason to believe— (i) that the holder of a licence under Part 1 of the Railways Act 1993 is contravening, or likely to contravene, any condition of the licence, or (ii) that the holder of a railway undertaking licence which authorises the carriage of passengers by railway is contravening, or likely to contravene, any condition of the licence or of a SNRP issued to the holder of the licence pursuant to the Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3050), it must refer the contravention or likely contravention to the Office of Rail and Road and inform the Secretary of State that it has done so.(2) Where a contravention or likely contravention is referred to the Office of Rail and Road under this section, the Office of Rail and Road must— (a) take such action (if any) as it thinks appropriate for the purpose of remedying or preventing the contravention, and (b) inform the Committee and the Secretary of State of— (i) any action it has taken, or (ii) if it has decided not to take action, of that decision and of the reasons for it. (3) In this section “railway undertaking licence” and “SNRP” have the same meaning as in the Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3050) (see regulation 2(1)).
252D Reports on investigation
(1) Where the Committee has investigated a matter under section 252B it may prepare a report of its findings. (2) The Committee may send the report to one or more of the following— (a) the Secretary of State; (b) Great British Railways; (c) the Office of Rail and Road; (d) the Passengers’ Council; (e) any other person the Committee thinks fit. (3) The Committee may publish the report. (4) Where the report was prepared following an investigation carried out as a result of a referral under section 252B(1)(b) by the Secretary of State, the Committee must obtain the Secretary of State’s consent before— (a) exercising its power under subsection (2) to send a copy of the report to a person other than the Secretary of State; (b) exercising its power under subsection (3) to publish the report. (5) Where the report was prepared following an investigation carried out as a result of a referral under section 252B(1)(b) by the Office of Rail and Road, the Committee must inform the ORR before exercising its power under subsection (3) to publish the report.
56 Complaints to the LTUC¶
After section 252D of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (substituted by section 55(7) of this Act) insert—252DA Complaints
(1) The Committee is designated as a body to which complaints may be made about an alleged infringement of Regulation (EC) No. 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2007 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations in relation to— (a) railway passenger services provided wholly or partly within the London railway area, or (b) station services provided within that area. (2) Subsection (2) of section 252A applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.
57 Publication of information and advice by the LTUC¶
After section 252DA of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (inserted by section 56 of this Act) insert—252DB Publication of information and advice
(1) The Committee may arrange for the publication, in such form and manner as it considers appropriate, of such information and advice as may appear to it expedient to give to users or potential users of— (a) railway passenger services provided wholly or partly within the London railway area, and (b) station services provided within that area. (2) In arranging for the publication of any such information or advice the Committee must have regard to the need for excluding, so far as that is practicable— (a) any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Committee, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual, and (b) any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Committee, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body.
58 Restrictions on disclosure of information by the LTUC¶
After section 252DB of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (inserted by section 57 of this Act) insert—252DC Restrictions on disclosure of information
Section 145 of the Railways Act 1993 (general restrictions on disclosure of information) applies in relation to information obtained by the Committee under or by virtue of section 252A or 252BA of this Act as it applies in relation to information obtained by the Passengers’ Council under or by virtue of the Railways Act 2026.
Part 3 — Miscellaneous provisions¶
Chapter 1 — Access to infrastructure and services¶
Access to and use of GBR infrastructure¶
59 Access and use policy¶
60 Infrastructure capacity plan¶
61 The working timetable¶
62 Preparation of working timetable¶
63 Capacity duty¶
64 Charging scheme¶
65 Performance scheme¶
66 Consultation¶
67 Appeals against access, charging and performance decisions¶
68 Appeal procedure¶
Access agreements and rights¶
69 Access agreements¶
(1A) Where the facility owner is Great British Railways, the Office of Rail and Road may give directions under subsection (1) only for the purpose specified in subsection (2)(e).
(1A) Great British Railways may not, as a facility owner, enter into an access contract of the description specified in subsection (2)(e) unless one of the conditions in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) is satisfied; and any such contract is void unless one of those conditions is satisfied.
(6) The powers of the Office of Rail and Road under subsection (5) may not be exercised in relation to an access contract where the facility owner is Great British Railways unless the access contract is of the description specified in section 18(2)(e).
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an access agreement where the facility owner or installation owner is Great British Railways unless the agreement is an access contract of the description specified in section 18(2)(e).
(5A) Directions may not be given under this section in relation to an access agreement where the facility owner or installation owner is Great British Railways unless the agreement is an access contract of the description specified in section 18(2)(e).
(1A) Directions may not be given under subsection (1) in relation to an access agreement where the facility owner or installation owner is Great British Railways unless the agreement is an access contract of the description specified in section 18(2)(e).
70 Access rights¶
71 Operation of existing agreements and rights¶
Supplementary¶
72 Regulations about non-GBR infrastructure, facilities and services¶
73 Interpretation of Chapter 1 of Part 3¶
Chapter 2 — Other provisions¶
The ORR¶
74 Monitoring Great British Railways¶
69A Additional function: monitoring Great British Railways
(1) The Office of Rail and Road— (a) must monitor the exercise of— (i) Great British Railways’ statutory functions, and (ii) any functions under arrangements made under section 4 of the Railways Act 2026, and (b) may carry out such investigations as it thinks appropriate for the purpose of monitoring the exercise of the functions. (2) When monitoring the exercise of Great British Railways’ statutory functions the Office of Rail and Road must, in particular, consider— (a) whether and how the activities set out in the business plans provided by Great British Railways to the Office of Rail and Road under Schedule 2 to the Railways Act 2026 are being carried out, (b) how the cost of carrying out those activities and the income received compares with the estimates set out in the plan, and (c) whether, and the extent to which, Great British Railways’ statutory functions are being exercised in a way that furthers the railway safety purposes. (3) In this section— railway safety purposes has the same meaning as in Schedule 3 to the Railways Act 2005; statutory functions, in relation to Great British Railways, has the same meaning as in the Railways Act 2026 (see section 3(4) of that Act).
(3A) The Office of Rail and Road may arrange for the publication, in such form and in such manner as it considers appropriate, of any information or advice given to the Secretary of State under subsection (3) in connection with its function under section 69A (monitoring Great British Railways).
75 Miscellaneous functions of ORR¶
(3ZA) A direction may not be given under this section to Great British Railways.
(7D) The Office of Rail and Road may not, by a final or provisional order, require the payment of a sum by Great British Railways.
(8) The Office of Rail and Road may not impose a penalty under this section on Great British Railways.
Publication of information¶
76 Publication of information by ORR¶
72A Duty of Office of Rail and Road to publish information
(1) The Office of Rail and Road must publish, in such manner and form as it considers appropriate, such documents and other information relating to the matters listed in subsection (2) as it considers appropriate. (2) The matters are— (a) licences and railway undertaking licences; (b) access agreements and installation access contracts; (c) access contracts, other than those for the use of GBR infrastructure; (d) experimental passenger services; (e) closures; (f) railway administration orders and their discharge. (3) When publishing documents or information under this section, the Office of Rail and Road must have regard to the need for excluding, so far as practicable— (a) any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Office of Rail and Road, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual, and (b) any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Office of Rail and Road, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body. (4) The Secretary of State may direct the Office of Rail and Road not to publish particular information or documents under this section if it appears to the Secretary of State that publication of that information or those documents would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person. (5) In this section— experimental passenger service has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Railways Act 2005 (see section 45(1)); GBR infrastructure has the same meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Railways Act 2026 (see section 73(1)).
77 Publication of information by Secretary of State¶
73 Duty of Secretary of State to publish information
(1) The Secretary of State must publish, in such manner and form as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, such documents and other information relating to the matters listed in subsection (2) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. (2) The matters are— (a) determinations made by the Secretary of State under section 34 of the Railways Act 2005; (b) the exercise of the Secretary of State’s powers under sections 55 and 57A of this Act. (3) When publishing documents or information under this section, the Secretary of State must have regard to the need for excluding, so far as practicable— (a) any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual, and (b) any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body. (4) The Secretary of State may not publish particular information or documents under this section if it appears to the Secretary of State that publication of that information or those documents would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person.
78 Publication of information by Scottish Ministers¶
73A Duty of Scottish Ministers to publish information
(1) The Scottish Ministers must publish, in such manner and form as they consider appropriate, such documents and other information relating to the matters listed in subsection (2) as they consider appropriate. (2) The matters are— (a) determinations made by the Scottish Ministers under section 34 of the Railways Act 2005; (b) the exercise of their powers under sections 55 and 57A of this Act. (3) When publishing documents or information under this section, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to the need for excluding, so far as practicable— (a) any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual, and (b) any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body. (4) The Scottish Ministers may not publish particular information or documents under this section if it appears to them that publication of that information or those documents would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person.
79 Publication of information by Welsh Ministers¶
73B Duty of Welsh Ministers to publish information
(1) The Welsh Ministers must publish, in such manner and form as they consider appropriate, such documents and other information relating to the matters listed in subsection (2) as they consider appropriate. (2) The matters are— (a) determinations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 34 of the Railways Act 2005; (b) the exercise of their powers under sections 55 and 57A of this Act. (3) When publishing documents or information under this section, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to the need for excluding, so far as practicable— (a) any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual, and (b) any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body. (4) The Welsh Ministers may not publish particular information or documents under this section if it appears to them that publication of that information or those documents would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person.
Co-operation etc¶
80 Duty to consult Scottish and Welsh Ministers¶
81 Duty to consult mayoral combined authorities¶
82 Duty to consult Transport for London¶
83 Advice from relevant local government bodies¶
84 Advice from Transport for London¶
After section 176 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 insert—176A Duty to advise Secretary of State and GBR
(1) Transport for London must provide the Secretary of State with such advice as the Secretary of State may reasonably require about a matter connected with the exercise by the Secretary of State of a function in relation to railways or railway services. (2) The reference in subsection (1) to a function of the Secretary of State in relation to railways or railway services does not include a reference to any functions of the Secretary of State so far as they are exercisable for or in connection with the railway safety purposes (within the meaning given by Schedule 3 to the Railways Act 2005). (3) Transport for London must provide Great British Railways with such advice as Great British Railways may reasonably require about a matter connected with the exercise by Great British Railways of a statutory function (within the meaning of the Railways Act 2026) in relation to— (a) railways in Greater London, or (b) railway services— (i) between places in Greater London, or (ii) between places in Greater London and places outside Greater London. (4) Expressions used in this section and in Part 1 of the Railways Act 1993 have the same meaning in this section as in that Part.
Removal of road vehicles¶
85 Charging for removal etc of road vehicles¶
Transfer schemes¶
86 Transfer schemes made by Secretary of State¶
87 Transfer schemes made by Scottish Ministers¶
88 Transfer schemes made by Welsh Ministers¶
89 Further provision about transfer schemes¶
90 Transfer of staff to the Passengers’ Council¶
Licensing etc of train drivers¶
91 Licensing etc of train drivers¶
International interests in railway rolling stock¶
92 Cape Town Convention and Luxembourg Protocol¶
Part 4 — General¶
93 Minor and consequential amendments¶
Schedule 4 contains minor and consequential amendments (including the repeal of some provisions which are spent).94 Power of Secretary of State to make consequential provision¶
95 Regulations¶
96 General interpretation¶
97 Extent¶
98 Commencement¶
99 Short title¶
This Act may be cited as the Railways Act 2026.Schedules¶
Schedule 11 — Licensing of Great British Railways¶
(12A) A licence exemption may not be granted to Great British Railways.
7B Grant of licence to Great British Railways
(1) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Office of Rail and Road and the Passengers’ Council, grant Great British Railways a licence under this section authorising Great British Railways to be the operator of the railway assets specified or described in the licence. (2) A licence under this section must be in writing. (3) A licence under this section continues in force for such period as may be specified in or determined by or under it unless revoked or surrendered before the end of that period. (4) A licence under this section may not be surrendered without the consent of the Secretary of State. (5) The consultation requirements in subsection (1) may be satisfied by consultation before Schedule 1 to the Railways Act 2026 comes into force (as well as by consultation after that time). 8 Grant of licence to persons other than Great British Railways
(1) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Office of Rail and Road and any consultation required by subsection (3), grant a person other than Great British Railways a licence under this section authorising the person to be the operator of the railway assets specified or described in the licence. (2) The Office of Rail and Road may, after any consultation required by subsection (3), grant a person other than Great British Railways a licence under this section authorising the person to be the operator of the railway assets specified or described in the licence. (3) This subsection requires consultation with the Passengers’ Council if the licence is a passenger licence or station licence. (4) The Secretary of State or the Office of Rail and Road may grant a person a licence under this section only on an application by the person made in accordance with regulations under section 8B. (5) The Office of Rail and Road may not grant a licence under this section unless— (a) the Secretary of State consents to the grant, or (b) the licence is granted in accordance with a general authority given to the Office of Rail and Road by the Secretary of State. (6) The terms of a general authority may include a requirement for the Office of Rail and Road to consult the Secretary of State, or obtain their approval, before granting a licence under this section; but a failure to comply with such a requirement in relation to the grant of a licence does not affect the validity of the licence. (7) A licence under this section must be in writing. (8) A licence under this section continues in force for such period as may be specified in or determined by or under it unless revoked or surrendered before the end of that period. (9) A licence under this section may not be surrendered without the consent of the Office of Rail and Road. 8A Licences: notification requirements
(1) Before the Secretary of State or the Office of Rail and Road grants a licence to a person under section 7B or 8, they must publish a notice— (a) stating that they propose granting a licence under that section to the person, (b) stating the reasons for proposing to do so, and (c) specifying a period of not less than 28 days beginning with the date of publication of the notice during which representations or objections with respect to the proposed licence may be made. (2) The notice must be published in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the grant of the licence. (3) They must consider any representations or objections which are made before the end of the period specified in the notice and not withdrawn. (4) As soon as possible after granting a licence they must send a copy— (a) in the case of a licence granted by the Secretary of State, to the Office of Rail and Road; (b) in the case of a licence granted by the Office of Rail and Road, to the Secretary of State; (c) in the case of a licence granted under section 7B or a passenger or station licence granted under section 8, to the Passengers’ Council. (5) A requirement in subsection (1) to (3) may be satisfied, in relation to the first licence granted under section 7B, by equivalent steps taken before Schedule 1 to the Railways Act 2026 comes into force (as well as by things done after that time). 8B Licences: applications
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a) prescribe the manner in which an application for a licence under section 8 must be made; (b) require the application to be accompanied by such fee as the Secretary of State may prescribe; (c) require the application to be published in the prescribed manner and before the end of such period as may be notified to the applicant by the Secretary of State. (2) The regulations may provide for different application fees to be payable in respect of licences of different descriptions. (3) Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State must consult the Office of Rail and Road. (4) Any sums received by the Secretary of State or the Office of Rail and Road in connection with an application for a licence must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
;(c) in the case of a licence under section 7B, provision that an authorisation by the licence has effect from a date specified in or determined under or in accordance with the licence.
9A Conditions of Great British Railways’ licence
(1) A licence under section 7B may include a condition requiring Great British Railways to comply with provisions— (a) in relation to the exercise by Great British Railways of its functions under section 3(1)(d) and (e) of the Railways Act 2026, and (b) which are contained in a document, as updated from time to time, which is made by the Office of Rail and Road and approved by the Secretary of State (an “approved document”). (2) An approved document may contain, in particular, provision about Great British Railways’ activities, and the manner in which it carries on those activities, relating to the sale of tickets by persons other than Great British Railways for travel on railway passenger services. (3) Where a licence under section 7B includes a condition requiring Great British Railways to comply with provisions set out in an approved document, the Office of Rail and Road must keep the document under review and agree any updates to it with the Secretary of State. (4) The Office of Rail and Road must publish as soon as reasonably practicable— (a) an approved document, and (b) where an approved document is updated under subsection (3), the approved document as updated.
11A Modification of Great British Railways’ licence by the Secretary of State
(1) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Office of Rail and Road and any consultation required by subsection (2), modify the conditions of a licence held by Great British Railways. (2) This subsection requires consultation with the Passengers’ Council if the proposed modifications relate to functions of the Council. (3) Before making modifications under this section, the Secretary of State must give notice— (a) stating that the Secretary of State proposes to make the modifications and setting out their effect, (b) stating the reasons for proposing to do so, and (c) specifying a period of not less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice during which representations or objections with respect to the proposed modifications may be made. (4) A notice under subsection (3) is given— (a) by publishing the notice in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the notice to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the making of the modifications, and (b) by serving a copy of the notice on Great British Railways. (5) The Secretary of State must consider any representations or objections which are made before the end of the period specified in the notice and not withdrawn. (6) As soon as practicable after modifying the conditions of a licence under this section, the Secretary of State must send a copy of the modifications to the Office of Rail and Road and the Passengers’ Council.
, and(1D) If the licence is a passenger licence or station licence and the proposed modifications relate to functions of the Passengers’ Council, the Office of Rail and Road must consult the Council before making the modifications.
(3A) As soon as practicable after modifying the conditions of a licence under this section, the Office of Rail and Road must send a copy of the modifications to the Passengers’ Council.
Schedule 22 — Funding Great British Railways¶
Part 1 — Funding by the Secretary of State¶
ORR to set timetable governing funding process¶
Secretary of State’s statement of objectives¶
Statement of funds available¶
Business plan and approval by the Secretary of State¶
Keeping the approved business plan up to date¶
Secretary of State’s power to provide financial assistance¶
Notification of financial assistance to be provided¶
Part 2 — Funding by the Scottish Ministers¶
ORR to set timetable: Scotland¶
Scottish Ministers’ statement of objectives¶
Statement of funds available: Scotland¶
Scottish business plan and approval by the Scottish Ministers¶
Keeping the approved Scottish business plan up to date¶
Scottish Ministers’ power to provide financial assistance¶
Notification of financial assistance to be provided¶
Part 3 — Subsidy Control¶
Subsidy control¶
Part 4 — Interpretation¶
Interpretation¶
Schedule 33 — Transfer schemes¶
Application and commencement of scheme¶
Property, rights and liabilities that may be transferred¶
Dividing and modifying transferor’s property, rights and liabilities¶
Obligation to effect transfers etc under a scheme¶
Effect of a scheme¶
Powers and duties under statutory provisions¶
Supplementary provisions of schemes¶
Modification of a scheme by agreement¶
Transfers of employment¶
Compensation for third parties¶
Provision of information¶
Interpretation¶
Schedule 44 — Minor and consequential amendments¶
Public Records Act 1958¶
The London Transport Users’ Committee.
Insolvency Act 1986¶
Railways Act 1993¶
.(aa) to comply with standards set by the Passengers’ Council under section 46 of the Railways Act 2026;
(7) In exercising a function for the purpose of this section, the duties imposed on the Office of Rail and Road by Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Railways Act 2026 are to be treated as imposed on the CMA.
(2) In exercising a function for the purpose of subsection (1), the duties imposed on the Office of Rail and Road by Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Railways Act 2026 are to be treated as imposed on the CMA.
.(a) notice of the petition has been served on the Secretary of State, and
.(a) notice of the application has been served on the Secretary of State, and
.(a) notice of the application has been served on the Secretary of State, and
(6B) When exercising functions of the CMA by virtue of subsection (3), the Office of Rail and Road may have regard to any matter in respect of which a duty is imposed on it by Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Railways Act 2026 if it is a matter to which the CMA could have regard when exercising those functions.
Omit the entries for the following defined terms—
“the 1973 Act”
“additional railway asset”
“appropriate designating authority”
“appropriate franchising authority”
“franchise agreement”
“franchise assets”
“franchise operator”
“franchise period”
“franchise term”
“franchised services”
“franchisee”
“Scottish franchise agreement”
“through ticket” and “through ticketing”
“Welsh franchise agreement”
“Welsh protected railway company”.
(a) a Scotland-only service; or (b) any other railway passenger service provided or secured to any extent by the Scottish Ministers.
(9) Nothing in this section is to be read as limiting the conditions which may be included in licences, whether or not with respect to free or concessionary travel.
, and(za) for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by Great British Railways of its statutory functions (within the meaning of the Railways Act 2026);
.(gd) for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the Passengers’ Council of any of its functions under the Railways Act 2026;
, and(aa) by sending it to the person by agreed electronic means (for example, by email to an agreed address); or
(1A) Subsection (1)(aa) does not apply in relation to a document required or authorised by virtue of sections 118 to 120 or 149A to be given or served by the Secretary of State to or on any person.
(3A) A notice sent to a person by electronic means is, unless the contrary is proved, to be treated as having been given on the working day immediately following the day on which it was sent.
working day means any day other than— (a) a Saturday or a Sunday, (b) Christmas Day or Good Friday; or (c) a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
Greater London Authority Act 1999¶
Licensing Act 2003¶
Railways Act 2005¶
(3A) When preparing or revising the strategy, the Scottish Ministers must consult the Passengers’ Council.
(9) The duty of the national authority under subsection (8) is discharged without its taking further steps so long as the provisions of any arrangements, in force at the time of the proposal, so far as they require the provision of the services, continue in force without modification.
(7) Where a service is designated as experimental or its designation is extended, the person designating must give notice of the designation or extension to the person who is to provide the service.
(4) For the purposes of this section the appropriate national authority is— (a) in a case where the railway passenger service that is interrupted or discontinued is a service which may be designated under section 25 of the Railways Act 2026, the Secretary of State; (b) in a case where the railway passenger service that is interrupted or discontinued is a service which may be designated under section 26 of that Act, the Scottish Ministers; (c) in a case where the railway passenger service that is interrupted or discontinued is a service which may be designated under section 27 of that Act, the Welsh Ministers, and where in any case there is more than one appropriate national authority they shall each have the powers conferred by this section.
mayoral combined authority and “mayoral combined county authority” have the same meanings as in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026;
;(da) a mayoral combined authority; (db) a mayoral combined county authority;
(4) In this section “relevant Scottish service” means— (a) a Scotland-only service; (b) a railway passenger service that is provided to any extent under section 31(3) of the Railways Act 2026; or (c) a station service provided in relation to a station in Scotland at which services falling within paragraph (a) or (b) make a scheduled call.
(4) In this section “relevant Welsh service” means— (a) a railway passenger service that is provided to any extent under section 31(4) of the Railways Act 2026; or (b) a station service provided in relation to a station at which only services falling within paragraph (a) make a scheduled call.
(ea) if the proposal affects its area, a mayoral combined authority; (eb) if the proposal affects its area, a mayoral combined county authority;
Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005¶
.(e) requirements to comply with standards set by the Passengers’ Council under section 46 of the Railways Act 2026;
16A. — Role of the Passengers’ Council
(1) The ORR must consult the Passengers’ Council— (a) before granting a railway undertaking licence which authorises the carriage of passengers by railway (a “railway passenger licence”), (b) before amending a railway passenger licence if the proposed amendments relate to functions of the Council, (c) before issuing a SNRP to the holder of a railway passenger licence, and (d) before modifying the conditions of a SNRP issued to the holder of a railway passenger licence if the proposed modifications relate to functions of the Council. (2) As soon as practicable after granting or amending a railway passenger licence, the ORR must send a copy of the licence or the amendments to the Passengers’ Council. (3) As soon as practicable after issuing a SNRP to the holder of a railway passenger licence or modifying the conditions of a SNRP issued to the holder of a railway passenger licence, the ORR must send a copy of the SNRP or the modifications to the Passengers’ Council.
Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations¶
.(a) Great British Railways, or (b)
(b) to the Passengers’ Council in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 44 of the Railways Act 2026; (c) to the London Transport Users’ Committee in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 252DA(1) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Local Transport Act 2008¶
.(fa) Great British Railways;
Planning Act 2008¶
Equality Act 2010¶
Great British Railways.
Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations Regulations 2010¶
.(1A) This paragraph applies to a breach by Great British Railways of the requirements imposed on Great British Railways by the provisions of the European Regulation listed in the Schedule.