The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT(UK)) hosted its annual Railway Study Forum dinner at the Kia Oval in London welcoming a diverse group of leaders and professionals within the railway industry.
Among those who attended was Alex Hynes, Director General for Rail Services in the Department for Transport (DfT) who shared updates regarding the future of the rail industry and what he hopes to delivery during his tenure.
Alex Hynes, former Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, is now responsible for rail passenger services and rail infrastructure projects at DfT, including the establishment of Shadow Great British Railway (SGBR).
During his speech, he remarked on SGBR’s establishment, stating that there is "so much to fix" and that the government intends to move swiftly.
Working alongside Andrew Haines FCILT, Chief Executive at Network Rail, Robin Gisby, CEO of DOHL Ltd and newly appointed SGBR chair Laura Shoaf, CEO of West Midlands Combined Authority, Alex emphasised that the government will not wait for Great British Railways (GBR) to be fully formed before achieving key objectives.
As the government seeks to transition the rail industry from private to public ownership, Alex noted that this represents the most significant change to the railways in 30 years.
He believes the industry now has a unique opportunity to design, build, and operate a system with customers at its core.
Speaking at the event, Director General for Rail Services in the DfT, Alex Hynes said: “The Passenger Railway Service (Public Ownership) Bill is progressing well, it is now in the House of Lords, and we expect it to be formalised into legislation soon.
“This will end years of fragmentation and waste and ensure the railway will serve the interests of the passenger and taxpayer, rather than focusing on maximising financial returns to private sector operators.
“This means core terms of existing contracts will expire over the course of the next three years, and that within this parliament, we expect operations will have transitioned into management by Great British Railways.”
Looking ahead, the government plans to introduce a second rail bill, the Railways Bill to solidify the establishment of GBR.
However, Alex acknowledged that this journey will not be easy, as the sector faces challenging performance metrics, industrial relations issues, and significant financial constraints that may tighten further.
Alex then clarified the crucial role SGBR will play in the future of rail being assigned as this new entity responsible for developing the comprehensive delivery plan for GBR.
“As Shadow Great British Railways, we've got a collective mandate to get on with the job improving the rail services.”
“The Secretary of State has set Shadow Great British Railways some initial priorities, improving services to passengers, unlocking barriers to delivery and finally, to design Great British Railways,” said Alex.
Additionally, Alex mentioned that SGBR's mandate further extends to fostering collaboration across the railway industry, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the entire sector's performance and efficiency.
Concluding his update, Alex outlined, the government's plan for rail reform centred around the establishment of GBR.
He explained that GBR aims to integrate track and train management, focusing on improving services for both passengers and freight customers.
Key aspects of the reform include better leadership through a unified management structure, enhanced passenger protections, and the creation of a new watchdog called the Passenger Standards Authority.
GBR is also expected to simplify the ticketing system, introduce innovations such as automatic compensation and digital ticketing, and promote rail freight usage.
Addressing the audience of over 200 rail professionals and leaders, Alex said: “I'd like to say a massive thank you for everything that you and your organisations do every day and every night to run our railway.
“It's a hugely complex task which is enormously appreciated by the people of Britain, and I look forward to working with you and your organisations to make the railway better for passengers and freight.”