Long term strategy for rail

Work on the long term strategy for rail is well underway. We continue to collaborate and engage with a wide range of stakeholders as it develops. 

Developing a long term strategy for rail

From December 2021 to February 2022, GBRTT held a call for evidence to help inform the development of a long term strategy for the railway.  

Questions in the call for evidence were based around five strategic objectives:

Meeting customers' needs

Meeting the needs of future passengers and freight customers by:

  • increasing value for money and improving the performance, reliability and convenience of rail
  • meeting multi-modal expectations and reducing end-to-end journey times
  • maintaining a safe railway as part of a safe transport system and widening accessibility

Financial sustainability

Ensuring rail is financially sustainable, efficient and value for money by:

  • reducing costs to government
  • ensuring a sustainable balance of fare/fee and government funding
  • increasing the efficiency of operations, asset management and capital investment – delivering on time and on budget

Long-term economic growth

Catalysing long-term economic growth by:

  • reducing total journey time and cost for transport users
  • connecting labour markets and realising agglomeration benefits
  • connecting places to markets, directly investing in skills, innovation and digital infrastructure, crowding-in foreign investment and facilitating the house building and place-making agenda

Levelling-up and connectivity

Reducing regional inequalities and improving connectivity between communities by:

  • contributing to long-term economic growth to support levelling-up
  • contributing to social benefits from improved connectivity
  • improving passenger and freight rail connectivity across Britain

Environmental sustainability

Supporting environmental sustainability by:

  • increasing the attractiveness of rail to encourage modal shift
  • delivering rail net-zero (traction and infrastructure), protecting biodiversity and addressing air pollution
  • investing in climate adaptation to protect transport links

Call for evidence response report (June 2022)

This report summarises the evidence of the 307 organisations and individuals that responded to our call for evidence and is being used as part of our evidence base to develop a long term strategy for rail. Key themes included decarbonisation, accessibility, the need for a strong customer service ethos and financial sustainability, as well as the importance of integrating with other transport. 

Call for evidence (December 2021-February 2022)

Originally called the Whole Industry Strategic Plan (WISP), this call for evidence aimed to explore how the industry might meet the significant challenges facing the railway – particularly following the 2020 Covid pandemic – and how we can best seize the opportunities of the future.