In a statement on 3 September, the Secretary of State for Transport launched the next stage in rail reform by instructing the CEO of Network Rail, the Director General for Rail Services in the Department for Transport, and the CEO of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd (DOHL) to establish a Shadow Great British Railways.
The eventual Great British Railways body will be the overall organisation which governs the rail network, bringing together passenger train operators and infrastructure. Establishing the body will require further legislation which will be brought forward under the planned Railways Bill.
The Shadow Great British Railways will work on areas which be taken forward without new legislation. This is expected to include reviewing performance and finances, and unblocking barriers to ticket reform.
The Secretary of State’s statement can be found at Shadow Great British Railways – Hansard – UK Parliament