Rail Transport and Economic Growth

Part of Transport – in the House of Commons at on 12 February 2026.

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Photo of Heidi Alexander Heidi Alexander The Secretary of State for Transport

I fear that the right hon. Gentleman may have misunderstood the proposals for reform in the Railways Bill. In future, open access decisions will be taken by Great British Railways, and applicants will have a right of appeal to the ORR. There is no conflict of interest. I can also assure him that in the past I have been as supportive, from the Department for Transport, as Network Rail has been of the open access application from Wrexham, Shropshire and the west midlands, and I will maintain my support for the proposals going forward.[Official Report, 23 February 2026; Vol. 781, c. 1WC.] (Correction)