Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of Great British Railways on levels of rail patronage.

In the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, published May 2021, we set out our plans for a more passenger focused railway that will attract passengers back to rail. Once established, Great British Railways (GBR) will provide strong unified leadership across the rail network cutting back complexity and ensuring the focus is on delivering for passengers and freight customers. GBR will have a new relationship with the private sector through new Passenger Service Contracts, designed to incentivise train operators to provide punctual and reliable services for passengers.