The UK government has published an agreement with Welsh ministers that aims to set out new ways of working under Great British Railways.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which has been agreed between Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates, marks a milestone in the delivery of the government’s rail reform programme, highlighting both parties’ commitment to the delivery of a simpler, more integrated railway for the Wales and English-Welsh borders area.

Both governments will work together under GBR to deliver a passenger-focused railway, allowing Welsh passengers and those travelling across the English-Welsh borders to benefit from faster, more unified decisions regarding their railway, resulting in more reliable timetables, connections and day-to-day service performance.

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.

Key elements proposed within the agreement include the formation of  ‘clearer priorities’ shaped by both UK and Welsh ministers, ensuring decisions reflect what matters to passengers and communities in the country – such as performance, reliability and local connectivity;  more joined-up planning of rail services and infrastructure; and a refreshed commitment to ensuring relevant customer information is available for passengers in both English and Welsh.

Elsewhere, decisions affecting passengers will now be made with consideration for local input, and Transport for Wales and GBR will aim to support easier connections between rail, bus and other forms of transport.

This agreement outlines the strong partnership between our 2 governments to deliver for the people of Wales.

We have already seen the joint commitment to a generational investment in our railways and this agreement ensures even closer working as we deliver improved rail services for passengers.

The agreement builds on the UK government’s commitment to modernise Welsh rail, which is backed by a minimum of 445 million GBP for rail enhancements across both the north and south of Wales and will see level crossings fixed, new stations built and existing lines upgraded.