The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) has submitted its official response to the Government’s consultation on “A Railway Fit for Britain’s Future”, drawing on the collective insight and expertise of its diverse membership base. The response was developed with input from CIRO’s Fellows—senior leaders from across the rail industry whose deep operational and strategic experience provides a credible, grounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Supporting the broad aims of the proposed legislation, CIRO’s response calls for a clearer, more coherent approach to reform, whilst emphasising the need for strong leadership, operational autonomy, and a shift toward long-term, whole-system thinking.
While the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) presents an opportunity to address long-standing fragmentation within the industry, CIRO cautions that this ambition risks being undermined by excessive political control, blurred governance, and insufficient engagement with the professionals responsible for delivering the railway on the ground.
Phil Sherratt, CEO of CIRO, said:
“This consultation is a pivotal moment for Britain’s railway. We welcome the Government’s direction of travel, but structure alone won’t deliver success. Great British Railways must have the freedom to operate with clarity of purpose, insulated from short-term political cycles.
“The railway is a complex, interconnected system—decisions must reflect that. CIRO’s members bring invaluable operational insight that’s essential for real-world reform. This is not just about governance—it’s about creating the conditions for a skilled, motivated workforce to thrive. CIRO stands ready to support the next phase of reform through professional development and whole-system thinking.”
Key Themes in CIRO’s Consultation Response:
A Need for Strategic Clarity and Operational Autonomy
CIRO supports the establishment of a long-term strategy for GBR, set by the Secretary of State. However, the response stresses the need for clear boundaries that allow GBR to make independent decisions based on professional judgement. Railways operate over decades, not election cycles, and frequent shifts in political priorities risk undermining essential long-term planning.
Whole-System Thinking Must Replace Siloed Decision-Making
The rail industry has suffered for too long from fragmented responsibilities and siloed thinking. CIRO calls for a holistic approach to planning and operations that reflects the interconnected nature of infrastructure, services, customers and communities. This systems-based mindset is a cornerstone of CIRO’s professional development programmes and is critical to delivering a modern, responsive railway.
Empowering Industry Expertise
CIRO strongly advocates for decisions—particularly those relating to performance, access, safety and investment—to be informed by individuals with practical, frontline rail operations expertise. This includes involving rail professionals in the design of regulatory frameworks, incentives and performance management systems.
Fairness and Balance in Network Access
While welcoming reforms to access rules, CIRO urges Government and GBR to ensure freight and open access operators are treated fairly and transparently. Local political interests must not override national strategic objectives, especially where infrastructure is shared across regions.
Stable, Long-Term Investment Frameworks
CIRO supports the concept of five-year funding periods but highlights that many enhancements require longer-term financial certainty. The Institution urges a pragmatic, outcome-based approach to investment that avoids short-termism and removes artificial boundaries between renewals and enhancements.
A Skilled Workforce is Essential to Reform
CIRO emphasises the critical role of people in the success of GBR and broader rail reform. Through its programmes—including apprenticeships, university partnerships, and its new MBA in Railway Operations Management—CIRO is equipping professionals with the skills needed to manage a complex, modern railway. Its Professional Operators Development (POD) framework is already being used by members to track whole-system competencies.
Laying the Groundwork for a More Integrated and Capable Railway
CIRO welcomes the direction of travel set out in the consultation and sees a clear role for the Institution in helping GBR and the wider industry transition to a more integrated, effective model. As the only professional body dedicated solely to railway operations, CIRO is uniquely positioned to provide the thought leadership, training, and collaborative networks that will support the success of reform.
The response submitted to Government reflects CIRO’s long-standing commitment to ensuring rail reform is shaped by those who understand the operational realities of the network—and who are passionate about building a better railway for Britain.
Read CIRO’s full response here:
