New Great British Railways agreements aim to give Wales and Scotland more influence |

Two agreements between the UK Government and Wales and Scotland, respectively, intend to give the devolved governments greater influence over rail services while ensuring coordination with the national network under Great British Railways (GBR). The UK Government has published a memorandum of understanding with the Welsh Government on 27 March and a separate framework with Scotland on 25 March, setting out how the administrations will work together under Great British Railways to deliver rail reform.

Officials say the agreements will “deliver clearer, more reliable services for passengers” and provide a structure for decision-making in devolved nations. In Wales, bilingual customer information is a specific commitment, reflecting the government’s aim to make services accessible. Both documents highlight shared responsibility for planning and managing services, signalling the first step towards integrating devolved powers with GBR’s national remit and setting expectations for operators on coordination and operational standards.

Welsh MoU sets out reform partnership

The Welsh Government and UK Department for Transport signed a memorandum of understanding to guide rail reform in Wales and the Borders on 27 March. The MoU outlines how both governments will work together, setting out responsibilities for planning, investment, and day-to-day management of services. Officials say it will allow Wales “a bigger say in services, working together to deliver better and more reliable journeys” and provide a framework for shared decision-making.

A key focus in Wales is ensuring passenger information is accessible and bilingual. The agreement explicitly commits to “providing bilingual customer information” while planning future service improvements. Operators and infrastructure managers will now have a formal framework for consulting Welsh ministers on timetable changes, investment decisions, and service alterations. While GBR will manage overarching network strategy, devolved authorities will play a more central role in day-to-day and regional operational choices.

Scotland framework protects devolved powers

In Scotland, which, like Wales, has a devolved government with transport among its responsibilities, a parallel framework agreement reinforces devolved powers over rail while preparing for integration with Great British Railways. Officials describe the agreement as “strengthening Scotland’s rail decision‑making, protecting devolved powers and delivering clearer, more reliable services for passengers”. The framework sets out governance structures and accountability arrangements for operational and investment planning, providing clarity on responsibilities between Scottish ministers and GBR.

The agreement emphasises coordination on long-term investment and operational decisions. The aim is to ensure Scotland can manage its rail priorities while benefiting from GBR’s national planning. It also signals that cross-border service integration will be managed collaboratively, with operators needing to align service patterns with both devolved and national requirements. The framework may also provide scope for more prompt timetable changes and better responsiveness to passenger demand in Scotland.

Implications for operators and passengers

Great British Railways will see most infrastructure and passenger operations come under public ownership and government control. However, that is already the case for passenger operations in Scotland and Wales. Freight is expected to remain in the private sector throughout Great Britain. For operators, the new agreements offer a more structured approach to planning services in devolved regions.

Both the MoU and framework set expectations for consultation and decision-making, which could influence freight and passenger operations that cross England, Wales, and Scotland. By formalising roles and responsibilities, the documents aim to reduce uncertainty around service changes and investment priorities, potentially allowing operators to plan more efficiently for network capacity and future upgrades.

Passengers, say the government, may see the agreements reflected in more consistent services, clearer information, and improved coordination across borders. In Wales, bilingual customer information is now a formal commitment.

However, the Cardiff government has already been pushing ahead with much grander projects, including a revamp of the entire rolling stock fleet. Meanwhile, in Scotland, clearer governance could mean fewer delays from planning disputes. Both frameworks provide mechanisms for joint oversight, which may influence operational standards, accessibility, and investment in stations and rolling stock, shaping the passenger experience while keeping GBR’s national objectives aligned with regional needs.

The broader network impact

The publication of the agreements precedes the full creation of Great British Railways, signalling early alignment between devolved administrations and the national body. Officials say these arrangements are intended to “strengthen decision-making” and provide a basis for collaboration on investment, timetable changes, and service improvements across the network. This early clarity may assist operators in integrating new technologies, electrification projects, and timetable adjustments with less disruption to passengers.

For the wider network, the agreements underline that regional control and national oversight will coexist, so no chance of conflict there, then. Freight services, in particular, could benefit from coordinated cross-border planning and clearer expectations for capacity allocation. While GBR will ultimately manage overarching infrastructure strategy, the MoU and Scottish framework provide devolved governments a formal voice in how services are delivered, shaping the future balance between national consistency and regional responsiveness.

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