Draft passenger services designation letter
Published 20 January 2026
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railway-passenger-services-designation/draft-passenger-services-designation-letter
20 January 2026
Subject: (Railways Act 2026) Designation of Railway Passenger Services
The Secretary of State for Transport of the United Kingdom, in exercise of the powers conferred by section (25(1)) of the Railways Act (2026), hereby designates as railway passenger services, the provision of which the Secretary of State may secure in accordance with section (31) of that act:
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those railway passenger services that, as of 27 November 2024, were operated under the terms of a franchise agreement entered into with the Secretary of State (excluding services operated on behalf of the Scottish ministers or the Welsh ministers)
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those railway passenger services that, as of 27 November 2024, were operated by DfT OLR Holdings Limited’s subsidiaries under the terms of a service agreement put in place pursuant to the Secretary of State’s duty under section 30 of the Railways Act 1993
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those railway passenger services in England that, as of (date) were operated by Transport for Wales and its subsidiaries under the terms of a service agreement put in place pursuant to the Secretary of State’s duty under section 30 of the Railways Act 1993, exercised by Welsh ministers under the terms of agency arrangements with the Secretary of State made under section 83 of the Government of Wales Act 2006
As per sections (25(4) and (6)) of the act, the Secretary of State may vary and re-publish this designation letter as necessary.
Signed
The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP
Secretary of State for Transport