End of GBRTT

[Tazi Hupefi]

It doesn't seem to have been noticed, probably because it doesn't affect too much at the moment, but the GBR Transition Team (GBRTT) was officially disbanded yesterday (31/03/25) with most of its functions and records transferred to Network Rail.

Most of its directors had officially resigned from that statutory role at the start of March.

 

[KNN]

It doesn't seem to have been noticed, probably because it doesn't affect too much at the moment, but the GBR Transition Team (GBRTT) was officially disbanded yesterday (31/03/25) with most of its functions and records transferred to Network Rail.

Most of its directors had officially resigned from that statutory role at the start of March.

If it has been disbanded/absorbed into NR, does that mean NR is effectively GBR now? Or that NR + GBRTT will be the foundation for GBR?

 

[sad1e]

If it has been disbanded/absorbed into NR, does that mean NR is effectively GBR now? Or that NR + GBRTT will be the foundation for GBR?

It was Probably decided it was easier to have infrastructure and operations under one banner once nationalised.
All i can hope is that rolling stock slowly comes with infrastructure and operations once the ball of nationalisation has well and truly started rolling.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I've not seen this anywhere? Is there a source? Might have something to do with Andrew Haines retiring...

 

[hwl]

I've not seen this anywhere? Is there a source? Might have something to do with Andrew Haines retiring...

For me this isn't news - Everyone I dealt with at the now former GBRTT has been telling me since last year they were transferring back to NR on 1st April (and it was on their email footers too).

 

[styles]

Someone should tell people not to apply for these jobs then? https://jobs.gbrtt.co.uk/jobs.aspx?s=1&&lo=0&brid=0&r=20&cc=GB

Experience Design Manager​

Hybrid Working

London (South East) £46,701 to £53,589 THE1394

We are currently looking for a Experience Design Manager to join our Fares, Ticketing and Retail team.

 

[kkong]

I've not seen this anywhere? Is there a source? Might have something to do with Andrew Haines retiring...

The GBRTT LinkedIn page mentions their current status:

GBRTT ceased to exist as an Arm’s Length Body on 1 April 2025.

However, there are important activities and programmes that need to continue, which are being carried out by three core teams: Customer & Revenue Growth, Industry Finance, and Fares Ticketing & Retail (FTR), alongside the work of partnerships and projects teams, among others.

These teams will work across the whole industry.

For the latest information about rail reform and how we are integrating as an industry, please visit the websites of the Department for Transport, DfT Operator and Network Rail.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Whole industry P&Ls are still very much being worked on.

 

[hacman]

It was Probably decided it was easier to have infrastructure and operations under one banner once nationalised.
All i can hope is that rolling stock slowly comes with infrastructure and operations once the ball of nationalisation has well and truly started rolling.

This is probably the direction - especially since (as I understand it) we no longer need to have separate operator and infrastructure entities now that the UK is no longer in the EU.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Someone should tell people not to apply for these jobs then? https://jobs.gbrtt.co.uk/jobs.aspx?s=1&&lo=0&brid=0&r=20&cc=GB

That is a Band 3B salary range in Network Rail.

 

[nwales58]

… especially since (as I understand it) we no longer need to have separate operator and infrastructure entities now that the UK is no longer in the EU.

Strange. In the late 90s we, and new joiner Sweden, were the ones pushing strongly in the EU for rail infrastructure and operations to be split (to drive down costs and state subsidies).

Now GBR can re-integrate to, erm, drive down costs.

 

[vuzzeho]

This isn't news. I've been told by GBRTT employees that this was long planned and meant to happen. They have now gone back to NR, DfT, and DfTO to start preparations internally for them to be turned into GBR. Also, GBR will be formed from Network Rail, I believe.

 

[BurtonM]

They're keeping it all quiet for some reason. Northern's franchise expired on 1/3, so they're effectively running as GBR, but there's no evidence of anything anywhere at all - the old franchise ended, and... that's it.

 

[Leyland Bus]

They're keeping it all quiet for some reason. Northern's franchise expired on 1/3, so they're effectively running as GBR, but there's no evidence of anything anywhere at all - the old franchise ended, and... that's it.

I'm sure it was reported elsewhere on this site that May is the start of seeing the new branding across the operators already "nationalised"...

 

[BurtonM]

I'm sure it was reported elsewhere on this site that May is the start of seeing the new branding across the operators already "nationalised"...

I asked about this last month:

Northern contract?

Northern's direct award expires on Saturday. But there's no franchise any more, and it's already with the DfT, so what happens? It all seems a bit quiet. Why no GBR? Will we see the back of Arriva's branding any time soon? Guessing unfortunately not.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Leyland Bus]

I asked about this last month.

How odd...

My acquaintance who works at Manchester Oxford Rd was also telling me that come May, Northern becomes GBR, with, supposedly, staff getting new uniforms and new "stickers on the trains" as he put it..

 

[TheHSRailFan]

I'm surprised no one mentioned this, but the website has been left to disintegrate slowly. No redirecting, no complete shutdown... just left there.

The main page (https://gbrtt.co.uk/) just comes up as a timeout error after "loading" for a while. compared to the "what we do" page (https://gbrtt.co.uk/what-we-do/), which has managed to load a few times but still gets a time-out error. The Job website works fine, but I have a feeling that if you apply now, you will just get a "sorry gbrtt doesnt exist anymore" or just silence.

Feels like a waste of money that it was created just to be thrown out as it wasn't really useful. Considering it was created under the Tory plans for GBR, though, very easy to see why. It was noticeable it died after the election when only a few new posts were made to the website after July 4th last year

 

[KNN]

Feels like a waste of money that it was created just to be thrown out as it wasn't really useful. Considering it was created under the Tory plans for GBR, though, very easy to see why. It was noticeable it died after the election when only a few new posts were made to the website after July 4th last year

How do you know that what it was doing hasn't been carried on under a new banner? The vast majority of what it was doing will surely be transferrable.

 

[MalaiseForever]

I'm surprised no one mentioned this, but the website has been left to disintegrate slowly. No redirecting, no complete shutdown... just left there.

The main page (https://gbrtt.co.uk/) just comes up as a timeout error after "loading" for a while. compared to the "what we do" page (https://gbrtt.co.uk/what-we-do/), which has managed to load a few times but still gets a time-out error. The Job website works fine, but I have a feeling that if you apply now, you will just get a "sorry gbrtt doesnt exist anymore" or just silence.

Feels like a waste of money that it was created just to be thrown out as it wasn't really useful. Considering it was created under the Tory plans for GBR, though, very easy to see why. It was noticeable it died after the election when only a few new posts were made to the website after July 4th last year

It’s not a waste of money - they’ve done loads of work and will continue to do so whilst GBR is set up.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

There were actually quite a few redundancies at GBRTT throughout it's existence, secondments curtailed early, contracts terminated prematurely and candidates who had applied for roles/been interviewed in more recent weeks were suddenly and unexpectedly abandoned as a result.

There has been some scaling back of larger reform projects too - too many stakeholders, particularly in/around local government with competing and different priorities - threatening wider GBR consistency and more organised reform.

 

[vuzzeho]

Yes, the rebranding is set to happen from May. I've had this confirmed to me. There's options for a huge new rebranding - new liveries, uniforms, the whole shebang. There's also options for lower-cost rebranding - but it's happening from May.

On how things will be from now: there are 3 GBR project support teams - GBR Design Support, Railway 200, and a Strategy Advisory team. These will be housed within NR's System Operator but will operate separately from NR, despite being funded by them and the DfT. There's also a new Partnership team which will handle all the mayoral strategic authority stuff as well as Rail Campus Derby. None of these teams are part of Shadow GBR - but they do work with them. Confusing, I know. Some GBRTT emails will be active until the end of June, but a lot have just become NR. The information in this entire paragraph comes from the GBRTT newsletter - always cite your sources!

 

[kkong]

There was an update sent by GBRTT, an excerpt of which is reproduced below.

Last year, the government instructed senior leaders of DfT, Network Rail and DfT Operator (DfTO) to establish a Shadow GBR forum – and to use their levers to enact change in the industry before legislation.

GBRTT has now ceased to exist as an Arm’s Length Body. By its nature, Shadow GBR represents the unified approach between track and train that the railway needs to grow and improve its offering to its customers and is the next logical step for rail reform.

However, there are three core teams that will continue to deliver important activities and programmes as clear priorities of Government, supported by their existing cross-industry governance:

• Customer and Revenue Growth (led by Suzanne Donnelly)
• Industry Finance (led by Sean O’Reilly)
• Fares, Ticketing and Retail programme (led by Stewart Fox-Mills)

Meanwhile, a new Partnerships team will lead strategy and design for devolution in Mayoral Strategic Authorities across England, and on Rail Campus Derby. A new secretariat team will work alongside, providing support to Shadow GBR.

Finally, there will be three project teams: Railway 200, GBR’s Design Support team, and a Strategy Advisory team.

Institutionally, these teams will be housed within Network Rail's System Operator and funded by the DfT and Network Rail. However, the teams will continue to work across the whole industry and continue with their existing governance that is independent to Network Rail.

We have created strong and productive relationships with the Shadow GBR partnership and wider stakeholders – train operating companies, Rail Delivery Group, local transport bodies among others – which we will continue to build on. And we will have a focus on delivering on the Secretary of State’s priorities and working towards GBR in partnership with government.

Elsewhere, GBRTT’s capability for policy, freight and strategic planning has merged with the Network Rail System Operator team to create a single offer to the industry. People, Culture & Change colleagues have merged with Network Rail HR to form a whole-industry people service.

 

[Adam Williams]

GBRTT has now ceased to exist as an Arm’s Length Body

Am I being thick? When was it ever an actual Body?

 

[Wallsendmag]

There were actually quite a few redundancies at GBRTT throughout it's existence, secondments curtailed early, contracts terminated prematurely and candidates who had applied for roles/been interviewed in more recent weeks were suddenly and unexpectedly abandoned as a result.

There has been some scaling back of larger reform projects too - too many stakeholders, particularly in/around local government with competing and different priorities - threatening wider GBR consistency and more organised reform.

I went back to my home TOC after two years this January. I hadn't heard of any of this and know someone who's just about to start a secondment.

 

[Scanderina]

Am I being thick? When was it ever an actual Body?

It was a company with its own employees and directors, sitting within the NR structure. I'm not sure I'd call it an arm's length body... but it was a body!

 

[Pretendolino]

Any idea how GBRX fit into this? They have their own page on Linkedin and I presume they are a separate thing?

 

[Adam Williams]

It was a company with its own employees and directors

Was it? I didn't think it was ever a legal entity.

Edit: oh, they just renamed an NR company to make it GBRTT?

 

[station_road]

Was it? I didn't think it was ever a legal entity.

Edit: oh, they just renamed an NR company to make it GBRTT?

Companies House shows that it was created as Network Rail One Ltd and then renamed to Great British Railways Transition Team Ltd on the same date

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14066335/filing-history?page=3

 

[450.emu]

When in May do these changes happen in terms of branding etc?

 

[AndrewE]

Someone should tell people not to apply for these jobs then? https://jobs.gbrtt.co.uk/jobs.aspx?s=1&&lo=0&brid=0&r=20&cc=GB

What the hell does an "Experience Design Manager" do in a Fares, Ticketing and Retail team?

My guess would be to try to use the new set-up as a naive customer to see how easy it is to navigate... but that's probably a million miles away from the reality!