Debate on bill on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, in the House of Commons, led by Heidi Alexander and Keir Mather. The answering members were Harriett Baldwin and Jerome Mayhew.

Railways Bill

Report stage. New clause NC48 debated with further new clauses and amendments. Government new clauses NC48, NC49 and NC50 agreed to. Government amendments to Clauses 1, 2, 6, 58, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 86, 88, 95 and Schedules 1 to 4 agreed to. New clause 1 NC1 negatived on division (77 to 271). Clause 34 amendment 143 negatived on division (167 to 266). Clause 68 amendment 148 negatived on division (155 to 279). Bill reported as amended. Third reading. Agreed to on division (278 to 149). Bill passed.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 787 cc307-421
Session: 2026-27
Department: Department for Transport
Legislative stage: Third reading; Report stage
Procedure: New clauses; Proxy voting
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Railways Bill. Transport Committee eighth report
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Railways Bill 2026-27
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Bills
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2026-0461
Thursday, 4 June 2026
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Proceeding contributions: Keir Mather | 787 c307 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.; Nusrat Ghani | 787 cc308-340 (Link to this contribution)
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:
Government new clauses 49 and 50....; Keir Mather | 787 cc340-1 (Link to this contribution)
It is my pleasure to open this debate on the Railways Bill. As we have said before, this landmark...; Graham Stuart | 787 c341 (Link to this contribution)
One concern that has been repeatedly raised during scrutiny is that Great British Railways will b...; Keir Mather | 787 c341 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the right hon. Member for again raising that important point about open access, ...; 787 c341 (Link to this contribution); Keir Mather | 787 c341 (Link to this contribution)
I would like to make a little bit of progress. [Interruption.] I will let the right hon. Member f...; Mark Pritchard | 787 c342 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the Minister. Before he moves on, the issue of open access agreements is very im...; Keir Mather | 787 c342 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for pushing me further on this issue. It is GBR’s responsibility...; Wendy Morton | 787 c342 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Keir Mather | 787 c342 (Link to this contribution)
I would like to make some progress; I hope the right hon. Lady will forgive me.
I will use ...; Richard Burgon | 787 c342 (Link to this contribution)
I very much welcome the Bill. I recently had a productive meeting with the Rail Minister in the o...; Keir Mather | 787 c343 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I hope he sees that the Government have tabled amend...; Jessica Toale | 787 c343 (Link to this contribution)
GBR launched in my constituency when South Western Railway came back into public ownership. The e...; Keir Mather | 787 cc343-4 (Link to this contribution)
I am glad that my hon. Friend is working so closely with the people who drive our railway and dis...; Jim McMahon | 787 c344 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate my hon. Friend for moving at such pace on this. I am sure that many commuters arou...; Keir Mather | 787 c344 (Link to this contribution)
That is exactly why we are establishing GBR: to provide my hon. Friend with a consistent approach...; Chris Vince | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech. Like others, I congratulate him on the speed at which...; Keir Mather | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
We certainly hope that it will. On the specific issues that my hon. Friend raises, will he consid...; Wendy Morton | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Keir Mather | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
For the final time, I give way.; Wendy Morton | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister mentioned devolution and what a difference that would make in terms of the mayors’ r...; Keir Mather | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Lady is right to say that I am well aware of the specific measure that she speaks ...; Monica Harding | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Helen Maguire | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Keir Mather | 787 c345 (Link to this contribution)
I will not give way again; I am sorry. I want to leave time for colleagues to contribute.
T...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 cc345-6 (Link to this contribution)
I note the Minister’s words about new clause 48.
This Report stage follows 16 sittings of t...; Scott Arthur | 787 c346 (Link to this contribution)
When we previously discussed that point, I made this same observation: when we think about privat...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c346 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Member, but he will recognise that if we look at the safety record unde...; Scott Arthur | 787 c346 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c346 (Link to this contribution)
I have addressed that point, so I want to move on.
We have the key challenge that the divis...; Laurence Turner | 787 c347 (Link to this contribution)
When privatisation happened, the Government of the day fought hard to keep state-owned foreign ra...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c347 (Link to this contribution)
I am interested in pragmatism. I am interested in what works for the taxpayer and for the user of...; Wendy Morton | 787 c347 (Link to this contribution)
Is it not the truth that the Government were given an idea from our days in government, and that ...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c347 (Link to this contribution)
I quite agree with my right hon. Friend. It seems that the Government have insisted on going back...; Daniel Francis | 787 c347 (Link to this contribution)
My constituents in Bexleyheath and Crayford have been at the forefront of this model, with Networ...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c348 (Link to this contribution)
I stand to correct the hon. Gentleman: the most punctual is, I believe, Greater Anglia, which ser...; Andy McDonald | 787 c348 (Link to this contribution)
On what is in the best interests of the citizens of this country, why does the hon. Gentleman thi...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c348 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member will be aware that I have already addressed that question in answer to one of his...; Graham Stuart | 787 c348 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree with new clause 85, which would make the interests of disabled people a...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 c349 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend rightly says that the needs of disabled passengers such as his constituent, ...; Edward Leigh | 787 c349 (Link to this contribution)
On dynamic management, I thought the Bill was about putting community at the heart of things. My ...; Jerome Mayhew | 787 cc349-351 (Link to this contribution)
The Father of the House is nailing me down to a cast-iron assurance at the Dispatch Box. I am not...; Caroline Nokes | 787 c351 (Link to this contribution)
I call the Chair of the Transport Committee.; Ruth Cadbury | 787 c352 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to speak to five amendments tabled in my name and those of other members of the Transport ...; Helen Maguire | 787 c352 (Link to this contribution)
Research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People found that 58% of those with visual im...; Ruth Cadbury | 787 cc352-3 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, of course I do, and much of what I am saying stems from the work with did for our report pub...; Graham Stuart | 787 c353 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady is making a powerful speech on this subject. Earlier I referred to Katrina, my cons...; Ruth Cadbury | 787 c353 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Member’s description of Katrina’s needs speak not only for her needs but for those...; Caroline Nokes | 787 c353 (Link to this contribution)
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.; Olly Glover | 787 c354 (Link to this contribution)
As we said on Second Reading and in Committee, the Bill has the right goals: sorting out the conv...; Alex Brewer | 787 c354 (Link to this contribution)
In North East Hampshire, thousands of London-bound commuters rely on trains as an extension of th...; Olly Glover | 787 c354 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why we need new clause 1 to provide a railway passeng...; Helen Maguire | 787 c354 (Link to this contribution)
On passenger experience, will my hon. Friend extend my thanks to the Minister and Lord Hendy—I ha...; Olly Glover | 787 cc354-5 (Link to this contribution)
I am happy to thank the Minister here and Lord Hendy for engaging with my hon. Friend’s amendment...; Steff Aquarone | 787 c355 (Link to this contribution)
Melton Constable in my constituency has a proud railway heritage—the Midland and Great Northern J...; Olly Glover | 787 cc355-6 (Link to this contribution)
The county of Norfolk suffered particularly from the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, so that needs to...; Helen Maguire | 787 c356 (Link to this contribution)
Post covid, the number of trains from Epsom and Ewell was halved. My new clause 37 would ensure t...; Olly Glover | 787 cc356-7 (Link to this contribution)
I commend my hon. Friend for her industry in the number of amendments she has tabled to the Bill....; Caroline Nokes | 787 c357 (Link to this contribution)
With an immediate five-minute time limit, I call John McDonnell.; John McDonnell | 787 c357 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker—I thought that was coming.
I will speak to amendments 15 an...; Rachael Maskell | 787 c357 (Link to this contribution)
It is really important that that scheme includes people who worked at British Rail Engineering Lt...; John McDonnell | 787 c357 (Link to this contribution)
I think we can place it on the agenda. I hope the Government will have taken this amendment on bo...; Cat Eccles | 787 c357 (Link to this contribution)
Will my right hon. Friend give way?; John McDonnell | 787 c357 (Link to this contribution)
Certainly, although I do not get an extra minute for this one.; Cat Eccles | 787 c358 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way—he is worth the extra minute. He has spoken about the...; John McDonnell | 787 c358 (Link to this contribution)
I agree wholeheartedly. We just need one comprehensive scheme under which everyone is treated equ...; Navendu Mishra | 787 c358 (Link to this contribution)
I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Black, Asian and m...; John McDonnell | 787 cc358-9 (Link to this contribution)
There is significance evidence of low pay and the way that people are discriminated against consi...; Lewis Cocking | 787 cc359-360 (Link to this contribution)
Broxbourne is an important commuter area when travelling into London. Millions of journeys start ...; Matt Rodda | 787 c360 (Link to this contribution)
I urge the hon. Gentleman to reconsider his point about the importance of building near railway s...; Lewis Cocking | 787 c361 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for supporting the point I was making. The Elizabeth line was a new line ...; Andy McDonald | 787 c361 (Link to this contribution)
Let me first draw Members’ attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests,...; John McDonnell | 787 c362 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work he did over the years to develop the policies that this...; Andy McDonald | 787 c362 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my right hon. Friend for his kind words, and I fully acknowledge his point. That is exact...; James Wild | 787 cc363-4 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful, Madam Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to speak as we embark on the Government’...; Laurence Turner | 787 cc364-5 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful, Madam Deputy Speaker, for being able to speak so early in this debate. I wish to f...; Olly Glover | 787 c365 (Link to this contribution)
Without boring the House with a re-litigation of the debate we had in Committee, I will just say ...; Laurence Turner | 787 c365 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member describes the railway as it could be—and he tempts me to get on to Red Star Parce...; Wendy Morton | 787 c365 (Link to this contribution)
The point I was making was that the concept of Great British Railways and bringing track and trai...; Laurence Turner | 787 c365 (Link to this contribution)
I hear what the right hon. Lady says, but it is contradicted by the record and our own experience...; Andy McDonald | 787 c365 (Link to this contribution)
What has been said is not accurate. Our White Paper for GB Rail was published ahead of the Willia...; Laurence Turner | 787 c366 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills is, I say respectfully, wrong on this issue. When t...; Edward Morello | 787 cc366-7 (Link to this contribution)
It was my pleasure to serve on the Bill Committee, and I put on record my thanks to my hon. Frien...; Rachael Maskell | 787 cc367-8 (Link to this contribution)
When we think about a nationalised rail service, we often debate the governance, which is vital. ...; Wendy Morton | 787 c369 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to speak to new clause 17 and amendment 46, both of which stand in my name. I want to focu...; Karen Bradley | 787 c369 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is making a very important point. My constituents are utterly shocked by tic...; Wendy Morton | 787 cc369-370 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend makes a really important point. I have found of late that, far from being a ...; Alex Mayer | 787 cc370-1 (Link to this contribution)
I warmly welcome the Bill. It is fantastic that the vast majority of residents—passengers—in the ...; Ashley Fox | 787 cc371-2 (Link to this contribution)
A modern railway system should enable everyone, regardless of their mobility, to travel safely, i...; Chris Hinchliff | 787 cc372-3 (Link to this contribution)
This is a very significant piece of legislation. I have tabled a number of amendments that I beli...; Adam Dance | 787 cc373-4 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for keeping us on time and on track—much better than some of the...; Matt Rodda | 787 cc375-6 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to speak in the debate. I want to address some of the issues raised by new claus...; Ben Spencer | 787 cc376-7 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to speak to new clauses 29 to 32 and amendments 65 to 67, tabled in my name.
My miss...; Ashley Fox | 787 c377 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for tabling new clause 30. Has he been offered any explanation by...; Ben Spencer | 787 c377 (Link to this contribution)
I hope we will hear from the Minister about why he may or may not accept the new clause—I hope he...; Elsie Blundell | 787 cc377-9 (Link to this contribution)
As I made clear on Second Reading, this crucial Bill is about undoing the immeasurable damage don...; Ann Davies | 787 cc379-380 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to speak to new clauses 10, 12 and 13, tabled in my name. Before I start, may I sincerely ...; Caroline Nokes | 787 c380 (Link to this contribution)
To ensure I get all colleagues in, I am introducing an immediate four-minute time limit.; Navendu Mishra | 787 cc380-1 (Link to this contribution)
I thank all railway staff at stations across Stockport, not only in my constituency but in neighb...; Vikki Slade | 787 cc382-3 (Link to this contribution)
When I was growing up, the state of the railways, alongside the weather, was a general complaint ...; Cat Eccles | 787 c383 (Link to this contribution)
I am proud to be part of a Labour Government who are taking the railways back into public control...; Melanie Ward | 787 c383 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is referring to the importance of railway accessibility. I wish to put on record, ...; Cat Eccles | 787 cc383-4 (Link to this contribution)
The Government are right to simplify retail under a unified Great British Rail offer, but the off...; Brian Mathew | 787 cc384-5 (Link to this contribution)
We in this place all recognise the transformative role that railways can play in creating better-...; Julia Buckley | 787 cc385-6 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Ministers both here and in the other place for their hard work and engagement on this...; Monica Harding | 787 c386 (Link to this contribution)
I rise in support of new clause 1, on the passengers’ charter, new clause 3, tabled by my hon. Fr...; Luke Taylor | 787 c386 (Link to this contribution)
I have statistics for Worcester Park station, which is also served by South Western Railway, and ...; Monica Harding | 787 cc386-7 (Link to this contribution)
They 100% do care and that is why we should support new clause 1.
It would also help if con...; Steve Witherden | 787 cc387-8 (Link to this contribution)
The Bill is a necessary and long-overdue step towards bringing our railways back into public owne...; Ben Maguire | 787 c388 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member is giving an impassioned speech about areas that are underserved by rail connecti...; Steve Witherden | 787 c388 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member serves a similarly large and rural constituency to mine. Getting stations open in...; Jen Craft | 787 cc388-9 (Link to this contribution)
This Bill represents a once-in-a-generation chance to create a simpler, more effective and more a...; Melanie Ward | 787 c389 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making some important points about railway accessibility, which is also an issu...; Jen Craft | 787 cc389-390 (Link to this contribution)
I completely agree. We have waited since the inception of the railways for them to be accessible....; Caroline Dinenage | 787 c390 (Link to this contribution)
I wonder whether I could give the hon. Lady an update from my own constituency. A year on from So...; Jen Craft | 787 c390 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. I find that quite unusual, as, having travelled on pr...; Amanda Martin | 787 cc391-2 (Link to this contribution)
I would like to draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Inte...; Alison Taylor | 787 cc392-3 (Link to this contribution)
Railways are critical for many of my constituents, and I am pleased to speak to the Government’s ...; Keir Mather | 787 cc393-5 (Link to this contribution)
With the leave of the House, I thank right hon. and hon. Members for their contributions. While i...; Scott Arthur | 787 c395 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for meeting me and Olivia from my office to try to find a way to implement t...; Judith Cummins | 787 c395 (Link to this contribution)
Order.; Keir Mather | 787 cc395-6 (Link to this contribution)
I could not agree more strongly with the sentiments expressed by my hon. Friend. He will know—we ...; Laurence Turner | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend will have heard representations for ensuring that, under clause 5, devolution agre...; Keir Mather | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely. To build on my hon. Friend’s point, this is very much the start of the conversation, ...; James Wild | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister referred to my new clause 35, and to £1 billion of funding to the north; how much is...; Keir Mather | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member is a tireless advocate for his part of the country, and we can continue our conve...; John McDonnell | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is dealing with things at breakneck speed, and incredibly competently, but I think...; Keir Mather | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my right hon. Friend for reminding me of that important matter, and I would be glad to fa...; Wendy Morton | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Minister give way?; Keir Mather | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
Oh, go on then. Why not?; Wendy Morton | 787 c396 (Link to this contribution)
I am conscious that the Minister is winding up, and I promise I will not ask about Aldridge train...; Keir Mather | 787 c397 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Lady is absolutely right that accountability and transparency should be at the hea...; Heidi Alexander | 787 cc416-7 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
Madam Deputy Speaker, with your in...; Harriett Baldwin | 787 c417 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend the Member for Droitwich and Evesham (Nigel Huddleston) and I have a hope, which i...; Heidi Alexander | 787 c417 (Link to this contribution)
People obviously need to be able to get to the railway station. This Bill gives me the power to e...; Helena Dollimore | 787 c418 (Link to this contribution)
I welcome the new powers in the Bill, particularly on timetabling. To give an example from my pat...; Heidi Alexander | 787 c418 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend has been a dogged campaigner on the railways for her constituents in Hastings and ...; Graham Stuart | 787 c418 (Link to this contribution)
I speak to the staff on Hull Trains, which are used by the Secretary of State’s ministerial colle...; Heidi Alexander | 787 c418 (Link to this contribution)
I have always been clear that there is a role for open access operators on our network where they...; Wendy Morton | 787 c418 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Secretary of State give way?; Heidi Alexander | 787 cc418-9 (Link to this contribution)
I will not give way.
GBR will also manage access decisions in relation to track capacity, e...; Wendy Morton | 787 c419 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Secretary of State give way?; Heidi Alexander | 787 c419 (Link to this contribution)
No. I am conscious of giving time to the shadow Secretary of State.
I thank all members of ...; Richard Holden | 787 cc419-420 (Link to this contribution)
I do not know what my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland and Fakenham (Jerome Mayhew) and the h...; Wendy Morton | 787 c420 (Link to this contribution)
The shadow Secretary of State is willing to give way to a Back Bencher and listen to their perspe...; Richard Holden | 787 c420 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend makes an important point.
If the Government truly believe in putting p...
Subjects: Staff Access Disability Conditions of employment Accountability Devolution Concessions Finance Licensing Freight Franchises Property transfer Railways Parliamentary scrutiny Passengers Railway track Standards Carbon emissions Wales Tickets Great British Railways Office of Rail and Road
Legislation: Railways Bill 2024-26 to 2026-27
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

Railways Bill

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