The
Conservative
Party
has
confirmed
in
its
manifesto
that,
if
elected,
it
would
create
Great
British
Railways,
which
was
envisaged
in
the
2021
Rail
Review
and
described
then
as
the
industry’s
‘guiding
mind’.

GBR
would
be
responsible
for
increasing
the
part
played
by
the
private
sector
in
the
rail
industry,
including
the
expansion
of
open
access
passenger
services
‘to
bring
greater
choice’.

The
Conservative
manifesto
says:
‘GBR
will
usher
in
a
revitalised
private-public
partnership,
delivering
a
modern
and
innovative
railway
with
reliable
services,
and
simpler
tickets.’

It
also
says
that
that
‘outdated
working
practices’
will
be
addressed
in
its
forthcoming
Rail
Reform
Bill,
a
proposed
law
which
would
be
included
in
the
King’s
Speech
at
the
opening
of
the
next
Parliament.

Other
Conservative
railway
plans
include
national
mobile
pay-as-you-go
contactless
tickets,
an
evaluation
of
proposals
to
continue
the
Borders
Railway
from
Tweedbank
to
Hawick
and
Carlisle,
an
updated
East
Coast
Main
Line
timetable,
electrification
of
the
North
Wales
main
line,
improvements
on
the
South
Wales
main
line,
more
reopenings
and
investment
in
the
line
through
Dawlish,
the
Energy
Coast
[Cumbrian
Coast]
line
and
the
Ely
Junction
scheme
in
East
Anglia,
and
improved
accessibility
at
100
stations,
including
the
50
announced
in
May.

The
Northern
Powerhouse
Rail
project
would
continue,
including
electrification
to
Hull
and
a
new
station
for
central
Bradford.
The
Midlands
Rail
Hub
would
also
be
funded
with
£1.75
billion.

In
addition,
the
manifesto
says
‘We
are
committed
to
all
the
schemes
set
out
in
the
Network
North Command
Paper,’
and
that
the
Conservatives
will
‘support
the
growth
of
the
rail
freight
sector’.
although
no
further
details
are
given.

Nothing
is
said
about
how
National
Rail
Contracts
could
change
or
be
re-awarded
in
future,
nor
if
the
four
nationalised
English
train
operators
would
be
returned
to
the
private
sector.