Collection

The Williams Rail Review

The root and branch review of Britain’s railway, independently chaired by Keith Williams.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

The Williams Rail Review was established in September 2018 to look at the structure of the whole rail industry and the way passenger rail services are delivered.

The review was led by independent chair, Keith Williams and supported by a panel of experts from across the country with expertise in rail, freight, business and passenger interests.

Williams-Shapps plan for rail

The Williams-Shapps plan for rail white paper setting out plans for altering railways in Great Britain.

Call for evidence

We sought your views on the problems facing the railway, and how they might be solved. The call for evidence closed on 31 May 2019.

Evidence papers

At each stage of the review, we sought to understand the full range of perspectives and options in pursuit of the right answers. To support this engagement published a series of evidence papers.

Updates to this page

Published 25 February 2019
Last updated 20 May 2021 + show all updates
  1. Release of the final white paper report of the Williams Rail Review.

  2. Speech at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership event published.

  3. Evidence papers and Accelerate Rail 2019 speech added.

  4. First published.