Thank you for contacting me about the future of our railways. The UK needs a modern, safe, affordable, and efficient railway system. For two-hundred years, the railway has enabled people to travel for work, leisure, or tourism, shifted millions of tons of freight and is an essential part of the economy.
I share the Government’s ambition for a modern railway, linking our communities and run in the interest of the public. That must include accessible, safe stations and carriages, a ticketing system that makes sense, with prices that people feel are fair, with decent working conditions for staff.
The Railways Bill, currently going through Parliament, seeks to deliver all of this, representing the biggest shake-up of our railways in a generation. It will create Great British Railways (GBR), bringing together track and train operations together. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 allows Department for Transport-contracted operators to be brought into public ownership as their contracts come to an end.
We know that people want to see improved ticketing. There are many different train operator websites and ticket types, which can confuse passengers and cost more, which is why the Bill combines all train operator websites and apps into one GBR system. In the future, GBR will sell tickets directly to customers, both online and in person, at ticket offices, via machines, and on trains.
This has been combined with Ministers announcing the first freeze in rail fares for 30 years. This will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier, which I warmly welcome.
Accessibility is a priority for the Government and I share its commitment to delivering a rail system which allows everyone, including disabled people, to travel easily and confidently.
More widely, investment in the rail network is essential and well overdue. By bringing train operations into public hands, Ministers can save £150 million a year in management fees, which can be reinvested in our services.
I am following the progression of the Railways Bill through Parliament closely and look forward to seeing it deliver significant benefits for passengers.
Thank you once again for contacting me.
Best wishes
Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland