Great British Railways, the body that will succeed Network Rail, has put out a call to evidence that will support a 30-year ‘Whole Industry Strategic Plan’.
It will ask how the rail industry can play a part in boosting the economy, providing access to new jobs and opportunities and making the railways a keystone in the UK’s plans to build back better and greener.
The call to evidence will last eight weeks and will ask stakeholders to give views on how rail can help deliver on five strategic objectives set by the government.
By setting out the five objectives – meeting customers’ needs, delivering financial sustainability, contributing to long-term economic growth, levelling up & connectivity and delivering environmental sustainability – the call for evidence will help to play an instrumental role in setting the rail system map for the future and helping create a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain.
Leader of the Great British Railways Transition Team, Andrew Haines said: “The Whole Industry Strategic Plan will help determine the future of the railway and we want it to be informed by as many different perspectives as possible, to learn from the lessons of the past and to meet the challenges of the future. We hope a wide range of organisations and experts, both inside and outside the rail industry, will respond to our call for evidence, to help us all make the most out of this opportunity to create a railway that truly delivers for all that use, service and depend on it. Together, we will create a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain.”
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: “From dealing with the challenges of coronavirus to the decarbonising the sector – the rail landscape as we know it, is changing and we need to ensure our railways are able to keep up with the demands of modern life.
“I have tasked Great British Railways Transition Team to work with industry partners and beyond to create a 30-year plan that will ensure the railway develops to support our national priorities, whilst building on the reforms of the Williams-Shapps reform offering passengers a better deal and taxpayers better value for money.”
Experts from across the Rail and Transport industry and beyond have been invited to submit evidence to ensure this first-of-its-kind strategy will receive contributions from a wide range of stakeholders.
The call for evidence is now open here and will run until 4 February 2022.
Watch Andrew Haines introducing the Whole Industry Strategic Plan for Rail ‘Call for Evidence’:
