| Transfer of historic railway estate to GBR (aka full circle) Posted by Electric train at 14:11, 27th October 2026 |     |
"It is firmly a Government intention” to transfer the Historical Railways Estate to Great British Railways. That was the commitment made yesterday by Lord Hendy, the Minister of State for Rail, during his response to a debate around an amendment to the Railways Bill which is currently going through its Committee Stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6poAoRnMp8
| Re: Transfer of historic railway estate to GBR (aka full circle) Posted by eightonedee at 17:21, 27th October 2026 | |
It was interesting to see how these members of the House of Lords could sit around the committee table, and (notwithstanding their different political allegiances) have a civilised and constructive discussion with a remarkable degree of cross-party agreement. Possibly it was easier for milords Young, Grayling and Harper to support this freed from the departmental and Treasury pressures of office?
But, notwithstanding Lord Hendy's commitment, it is difficult to see priority being given to the constructive re-use or devotion of much valuable resource to these assets if they do end up in GBR's ownership. I have had recent experience of dealing with CRT on a "legacy" site, and temper my disappointment with the slowness of their actions by the thought of the vast estate of current and former canal assets (quite a few of which carry considerable potential liability if something fails, as has happened on more than one occasion in recent years) for which they are responsible. I am not sure that moving assets from one balance sheet to another does much to help safeguard them in a world when cost is king, and there are many calls on resources.
| Re: Transfer of historic railway estate to GBR (aka full circle) Posted by grahame at 18:05, 29th October 2026 | |
Covered on
Rail UK
Campaigners have welcomed a Government commitment to hand the custodianship of 3,100 legacy bridges, tunnels and viaducts to Great British Railways, the body expected to take over the operation of most of Britain’s rail infrastructure and passenger services next year.
Collectively known as the Historical Railways Estate, the structures were transferred to the Department for Transport in 2013 after British Railways Board (Residuary) was abolished as part of a quango cull. Day-to-day management responsibilities were passed to the Highways Agency, now called National Highways, which looks after the UK’s strategic road network.
In 2021, the state-owned company was embroiled in controversy after plans were revealed that would have resulted in 134 historic bridges and tunnels being infilled or demolished without any consideration of their social value or repurposing potential. The longer-term programme could have seen as many as 480 structures being lost.
Accusations of “cultural vandalism” were levelled against National Highways after it unlawfully infilled a masonry arch at Great Musgrave in Cumbria under misapplied permitted development rights, ignoring a request from the local planning authority not to start the work.
The Government intervened to pause NH’s infilling and demolition programme ... continues
Collectively known as the Historical Railways Estate, the structures were transferred to the Department for Transport in 2013 after British Railways Board (Residuary) was abolished as part of a quango cull. Day-to-day management responsibilities were passed to the Highways Agency, now called National Highways, which looks after the UK’s strategic road network.
In 2021, the state-owned company was embroiled in controversy after plans were revealed that would have resulted in 134 historic bridges and tunnels being infilled or demolished without any consideration of their social value or repurposing potential. The longer-term programme could have seen as many as 480 structures being lost.
Accusations of “cultural vandalism” were levelled against National Highways after it unlawfully infilled a masonry arch at Great Musgrave in Cumbria under misapplied permitted development rights, ignoring a request from the local planning authority not to start the work.
The Government intervened to pause NH’s infilling and demolition programme ... continues
Highways England never felt look a good home for the Historic Railway Estates. One or perhaps two cheers but not three from me - responsibility is transferred to another organisation which is a successor to one that is - err - has an imperfect record - the Pilning footbridge scandal, for example.
