KEIGHLEY and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has given his backing to the Government’s sweeping reforms to how railway services operate.

The measures, which were announced last week by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, will be published through a Rail White Paper.

Following a chaotic timetable change in 2018, the Government commissioned Keith Williams - non-executive chairman of Royal Mail and former chief executive of British Airways - to undertake a route and branch review of how the UK’s railway system operates.

The review found the railway system was too fragmented, too complicated and did not put passengers first.

Since the review, the railways have faced challenges through the near total collapse of passenger demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Through these reforms, the Government will make a bold new vision for passengers – of punctual and reliable services, simpler tickets and a modern, green and innovative railway that meets the needs of the nation.

To bring about this change the Government will create a new body, Great British Railways, to integrate the railways for the first time in a quarter of a century, owning the infrastructure, collecting most fare revenue, running and planning the network and setting timetables.

It will be a single, familiar brand responsible for delivering better value fares, punctual and reliable services, which Mr Moore said ends the confusion of the current system. It will also replace the existing Government-owned Network Rail.

Mr Moore said: “These bold and clear plans for our railways is just what we need as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic with the aim to build back better.

"The system as it currently stands just doesn’t work for passengers. Re-nationalisation of our railways is not, and never has been, the answer. These reforms to simplify our railways whilst continuing to use private rail providers will make our rail network fit for the 21st century.

“I am also thrilled that the white paper has a focus on making our rail network cleaner and greener. Getting more freight onto our railways will ease our transition to net-zero carbon by 2050.”