Morning, Friday, 22nd January 2027
Online
This conference will examine next steps for Britain’s rail network. Areas for discussion include the introduction of Great British Railways and the transition of passenger services into public ownership, practical approaches to developing an integrated, accountable and reliable railway system, and questions relating to major infrastructure investment, network capacity, resilience, and progress on decarbonisation.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to consider priorities in the context of the Railways Bill currently progressing through Parliament, preparations for the establishment of GBR in 2027 and development of the Government’s Long-Term Rail Strategy ahead of its expected publication in autumn 2027 - following the publication in September of its proposed structure and strategic direction, and as further analysis and stakeholder engagement is taken forward.
Attendees will assess implications of the emerging GBR licence and accountability framework, the proposed governance and oversight arrangements, and the transfer of operators into public ownership. They will look at what can be taken forward from recent transitions such as Chiltern Railways, Govia Thameslink Railway and West Midlands Trains, priorities for the forthcoming transfer of Great Western Railway, and what early experience can tell us about service performance, reliability, accountability and passenger experience.
The agenda will examine options for investment and future market structure of the railway, including considerations for competition, access arrangements and the role of open access operators under GBR. Delegates will discuss rail freight growth ambitions, future capacity requirements and the balance between passenger and freight services, alongside discussion of affordability, value for money, long-term funding priorities, and the role of rail in supporting wider economic development, regional connectivity and growth.
Further sessions will consider long-term network enhancement, asset stewardship and implementation of major investment programmes, including assessing priorities for infrastructure development and technological capability. Attendees will examine progress on major programmes such as the TransPennine Route Upgrade, East West Rail, HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, alongside approaches for identifying and meeting the skills and workforce requirements needed to support rail reform and project delivery.
Overview of areas for discussion:
- rail reform, GBR & public ownership:
- the Railways Bill and establishment of GBR - implementation timelines and delivery priorities
- implications of the GBR licence and accountability framework - governance, accountability and oversight arrangements
- transfer of operators into public ownership - integrating track and train - early impacts on reliability, performance and passenger experience
- passengers, regulation & service outcomes:
- reliability, punctuality and operational performance - measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of reform
- accessibility, customer experience and consumer protection - the role of the Passengers’ Council under its proposed new powers and the Office of Rail and Road
- fares reform, retail markets and passenger expectations
- investment, market structure & freight:
- affordability, value for money and long-term funding priorities - attracting investment and maintaining industry confidence
- access and use arrangements - competition, open access operators and private sector participation
- rail freight growth targets - capacity allocation - balancing passenger and freight demand
- infrastructure delivery, connectivity & growth:
- progress on the TransPennine Route Upgrade, East West Rail, HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail
- implications of repurposing the former HS2 Phase 2b legislation - integration with wider network priorities
- project sequencing, pipeline stability and supporting regional connectivity, economic development and growth
- workforce, skills & capability:
- workforce capacity, recruitment and retention - industrial relations and operational resilience
- skills requirements for infrastructure enhancement, electrification and digital railway technologies
- supply chain capability and supporting delivery of major programmes
- decarbonisation, safety, resilience & modernisation:
- rolling stock, traction and infrastructure strategy - aligning investment decisions with net zero objectives
- network safety and climate resilience - asset condition and extreme weather preparedness - emerging lessons from incidents of collision and derailment
- digital railway technologies, innovation and network modernisation - opportunities to improve capacity, reliability and customer outcomes
