Member

We do not want passengers to interact with more operators than they need to. Many noble Lords, on all sides of this House, will know how much passengers resent the different characteristics of ticketing, information and other things, which the railway network currently suffers from. While the Bill does not disrupt existing arrangements in London and the Liverpool City Region, it is not our intention to devolve operating responsibility for more services to local authorities at this stage. It does not mean that, in future, Great British Railways cannot integrate in a way that brings better services generally and addresses the needs of local communities.