London Assembly calls on the government to further devolve the running of rail services in London

The London Assembly has today called on the government to further devolve the running of rail services in London, to ensure Londoners get the most benefit possible from proposals to bring rail back into public ownership.

In a letter to the Minister for Rail, Lord Hendy, the Transport Committee calls on the government to amend the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill 2024-25 to allow Transport for London (TfL) to run services operating into, and within, London.

The Committee has also written to the Mayor of London, recommending that TfL should have the power to appoint a public sector operator for the Elizabeth Line and Overground, in line with the changes to other services operating in London following the introduction of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill 2024-25.

If any further rail services are devolved, the Committee believes that the Mayor and TfL should be given the ability to appoint the operator and set the direction for them, as is currently the case with London Overground and the Elizabeth Line.

Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Elly Baker AM, said:

“The London Assembly has long backed further devolution of transport services in London, and the evidence the Committee heard in its investigation further supported that view.

“The Committee recognises that any further devolution would raise complex and important questions around the governance and systems for ensuring accountability in rail services.

“That’s why the Committee has written to the Mayor and the Government, calling on them to engage at the earliest stages with Londoners and the Assembly on how any further devolution should work in practice.”