UK builds Great British Railways by 2028, based in Derby

Network and train operations are brought under one roof; the Department for Transport is sole shareholder and main funder, GBR decides on network access and charges (with the ORR as appeal body); separate arrangements are planned for Scotland and Wales.

The Department for Transport has published an update on the set-up of Great British Railways based on the Railways Bill: GBR is to become a state-owned company based in Derby that runs passenger services in England and at the same time maintains track, stations and depots, as Network Rail does today; the build-up is to be complete by 2028. The Department for Transport becomes sole shareholder and main funder, GBR decides on access rights and track charges for other operators, and the ORR, as a statutorily strengthened appeal body, can send decisions back or replace them. For Scotland, closer integration of ScotRail and GBR or a joint company is envisaged, for Wales a separate Wales and Borders business unit working with Transport for Wales, and the department intends to publish a 30-year rail strategy shortly (LOK Report, 29 Sep 2026).