Policy paper

Great British Railways: Williams-Shapps plan for rail

The government’s plan to transform the railways in Great Britain.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 20 May 2021
• Last updated: 14 December 2023 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Great British Railways: The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail (web version)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-2465-7, CCS0321182446 05/21, CP 423

PDF, 15.9 MB, 116 pages

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Great British Railways: The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail (print version)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-2465-7, CCS0321182446 05/21, CP 423

PDF, 55.8 MB, 112 pages

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Great British Railways: The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail (print cover)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-2465-7, CCS0321182446 05/21, CP 423

PDF, 2.29 MB, 2 pages

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Details

This white paper sets out our plan for a revolution on the railways in Great Britain. It is based on the shared vision of Keith Williams, the independent Chair of the Rail Review, and the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, to put rail on the right track to support the levelling up of our towns, cities and regions.

It shows how the government will make railways the backbone of a cleaner, more environmentally friendly and modern public transport system across the country.

By replacing franchising, accelerating innovation and integrating the railways, we will deliver an efficient, financially sustainable railway that meets the needs of passengers and those who rely on rail on a daily basis.

Update on centralised Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer: December 2023

As set out in the white paper, we are committed to improving passenger experience on the railways.

The private sector plays an important role in driving innovation and attracting more customers to the railway. As stated in the Bradshaw Address, we are focused on opening up railway data and systems, lowering barriers to entry for independent rail ticket retailers to improve passenger experience. We are confirming that we are not pursuing plans to deliver a centralised Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer.

Train operators will continue to retail to passengers online alongside existing third-party retailers while we develop measures to spur further competition in the online rail ticket retail market to make things better for passengers.

Published 20 May 2021
Last updated 14 December 2023 + show all updates

1. 14 December 2023

   Updated to reflect that government is no longer pursuing plans to deliver a centralised Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer.

2. 20 May 2021

   First published.