techUK submits evidence to Parliamentary committee on Railways Bill

techUK has formally submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Railways Bill. This is the first opportunity for Parliament to do detailed scrutiny and propose changes to the Bill which is expected to become law by the end of the year. The Railways Bill represents the biggest overhaul of the UK rail system in decades, and creates Great British Railways (GBR), a new publicly-owned body that brings together responsibility for passenger services and rail infrastructure into a single integrated organisation.

TechUK's message is clear: the Railways Bill is a once‑in‑a-generation opportunity to embed innovation, encourage competition, and ensure the UK rail system is ready for a digital future, but only if the Bill ensures that these principles are embedded in GBR from the start.

Many of the digital improvements passengers now expect have historically been driven by competition and openness, not centralised delivery. Independent retailers have consistently delivered customer benefits, including user-friendly platforms, multimodal integration, real-time updates, and paperless ticketing.

In our submission we warn that, if private sector competition and innovation is disincentivised and if GBR’s regulatory and operational functions are not separated:

Outdated structures and legacy systems with become entrenched

Private sector innovation and investment will be risked

Passenger experience will be damaged

We have, therefore, called for:

Clear strategic direction on innovation, including targets and reporting duties and specific funding for innovation

Strong partnerships with the private sector, which has historically delivered most rail‑tech innovation in the UK

GBR’s functions (including regulatory, operational, and retail) to be meaningfully separated, with regulators given proper duties and powers to enforce competition

GBR’s functions to be placed in a wider context of integrating transport

You can read our full submission here and techUK will be engaging with Parliament throughout the Bill’s process.

Members can log in to view the submission.

Smart Infrastructure and Systems Programme activities

techUK champion the role of technology in driving positive outcomes in our built infrastructure; from hitting net zero goals to improving safety. In doing so, we also optimise the commercial and regulatory landscape to ensure innovation in infrastructure can flourish. Visit the programme page here