Department for Transport

The Department for Transport provides strategic direction and funding to the railways in England and Wales and buys rail franchises and projects. Their work is directed and overseen by the Secretary of State for Transport and their team

The Department’s work is directed and overseen by the Secretary of State, Mark Harper MP, and his Ministerial team which is made up of four MPs and one Lords Minister. The Minister of State for Rail Huw Merriman MP is directly involved in rail. The DfT rail portfolio is organised into three separate groups:

• Rail Strategy and Services Group

• Rail Infrastructure Group

• High Speed Rail Group

Rail Strategy and Services Group

The Rail Strategy and Services Group is led by Conrad Bailey, who oversees:

• Developing strategy and policy for the rail sector in the context of broader government policy

• Managing the department’s overall expenditure on rail services and infrastructure

• Ensuring delivery of major projects and programmes including the:

• £5.7 billion Intercity Express Programme

• £7 billion Thameslink programme

• £14.8 billion Crossrail programme (jointly with Transport for London)

• Delivering the ongoing programme of rail franchises

• Effective sponsorship of: British Transport Police, Network Rail, Office of Rail and Road, Rail Accidents Investigation Branch, Transport Focus

Rail Infrastructure Group

The Rail Infrastructure Group is led by David Hughes. This portfolio includes Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Integrated Rail Plan, the Transpennine Route Upgrade, Restoring Your Railway, other Network Rail enhancements, East West Rail and Crossrail.

High Speed Rail Group

The High Speed Rail Group is led by Alan Over and responsible for the High Speed 2 programme and is on the executive committee level for the department’s work on a number of other major rail projects. These projects include East West Rail, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Crossrail 2. He is a member of the department’s executive committee and board.

Network Rail

Network Rail is a central Government body which operates as a ‘not for dividend’ company regulated by the Office of Rail and Road. It owns, operates, maintains and develops Britain’s railway and is responsible for ensuring that the railway is safe and reliable. As NR’s sole Member, the Secretary of State for Transport is accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of Network Rail. A framework agreement published in July 2019 stipulates that the Secretary of State has the power to appoint and dismiss the Chair of Network Rail and approve the board’s suggested candidate for Chief Executive. The Secretary of State also determines the Rail Investment Strategy and Statement of Funds Available which contain the Government’s plans for investment on the network.

Oversight

The DfT oversees the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) and Transport Focus. The Chair and Board members of the BTPA are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport directly. Transport Focus has a board of non-executive members appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport (a Chair and five members). Transport Focus is the statutory independent consumer watchdog for Britain’s rail passengers. The TF Board has three other members (in addition to the five appointed by the SofS) who are appointed by Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales and the London Assembly. The British Transport Police Authority is the oversight body for the BTP, the specialist police force for the rail network across Great Britain.

The Office of Rail and Road is the independent safety and economic regulator for the railways. The Secretary of State appoints the Chair and other Board members. The Secretary of State issues the ORR with general guidance in respect of the exercise of its rail functions. The ORR is responsible for assessing whether the Secretary of State’s proposals are deliverable by Network Rail within the level of public funding available.

London and Continental Railways (LCR) is wholly owned by the Department of Transport and High Speed Two (HS2) Limited is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Transport.

The East West Railway Company (EWRC) is a non-departmental public arm’s length body set up by the Government to accelerate the East West Rail project – a new rail link between Cambridge and Oxford. EWRC works with the Department for Transport. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) works with the DfT but independently investigates accidents to improve railway safety and inform the industry and the public.

Key Personnel

Secretary of State for Transport: Mark Harper MP

Minister of State for Transport (Rail and HS2): Huw Merriman MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Baroness Vere of Norbiton

Director General, High Speed Rail Group: Alan Over Director General, Rail Strategy and Services Group: Conrad Bailey

Director General, Rail Infrastructure Group: David Hughes

Contact Information

Address: Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR

Tel: 0300 330 3000

Email: dft@dft.gov.uk Visit: www.dft.gov.uk