Better journeys ahead: agreement secured to benefit Welsh passengers under Great British Railways

New UK, Welsh rail agreement gives Wales a bigger say in services, working together to deliver better and more reliable journeys and with a commitment to providing bilingual customer information.

GBR and Transport for Wales will plan services together, meaning passengers will experience smoother journeys, clearer bilingual travel information and improved links between rail, bus and active travel.

Rail passengers travelling in Wales and the English borders will benefit from strengthened local decision making as the UK government today (25 March 2026) publishes an agreement with Welsh ministers setting out ways of working under Great British Railways.

The publication of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates marks a major milestone in the delivery of the government’s bold rail reforms. The agreement also highlights both parties’ commitment to deliver a simpler, better and more integrated railway for the Wales and English-Welsh borders area.

The agreement lays out how both governments will work together under GBR to deliver a passenger-focused railway, with clearly defined responsibilities and governance. This means Welsh passengers and those travelling across the English-Welsh borders will see quicker, more joined-up decisions about their railway, resulting in more reliable timetables, connections and improved day-to-day service performance.

GBR and Transport for Wales will plan services together, meaning passengers will experience smoother journeys, clearer bilingual travel information and improved links between rail, bus and active travel.

Under Great British Railways, the Welsh Government will have a new, strengthened role and a bigger say in how the railway is run for local communities to improve connectivity.

At its heart, this agreement is about improving passenger experience by aligning how both governments plan and manage rail services, including cross‑border travel.

The agreement is a key part of GBR which, once established in 2027, will put passengers back at the heart of the railways to deliver a safe, sustainable and high-performing network. Where the previous system saw profits put before passengers, GBR will prioritise value for money for taxpayers and drive investment and consistently better experience for all rail customers.

GBR will run and manage the tracks and trains used every day, ending years of fragmentation to drive-up standards for passengers and make journeys easier and better value for money.

Liberty Lux News