UK's 3,100 Historic Railway Structures to Be Transferred to Great British Railways

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 26, UK Rail Minister Lord Hendy confirmed during a debate on the Railways Bill in the House of Lords that responsibility for the Historical Railways Estate (HRE) will be transferred from National Highways to Great British Railways (GBR). Lord Hendy stated that GBR will possess "the capability, knowledge and experience to maintain this heritage and bring it back into use," and that the Bill "already contains appropriate mechanisms to enable this transfer."

The HRE comprises more than 3,100 structures associated with the former railway network, including 1,906 bridges, 152 tunnels, 101 viaducts and aqueducts, 599 partially demolished structures, 221 earthworks, and 125 land and other assets, most of which were built over 100 years ago. Following the dissolution of BRB (Residuary) in 2013, the assets were transferred at the request of the Department for Transport to the then Highways Agency (now National Highways).

The central controversy during National Highways' stewardship occurred in 2021. Citing structural instability, the agency poured approximately 1,000 tonnes of concrete beneath Great Musgrave Bridge in Cumbria, but was refused retrospective planning permission by the local council and ordered to remove it. The removal cost approximately £352,000, nearly three times the £124,000 cost of the infilling. The incident sparked accusations of "cultural vandalism," and the government subsequently paused National Highways' infilling and demolition programme pending the establishment of a formal consultation process.

The legislative mechanism for the transfer is embedded in the Railways Bill currently under consideration in the House of Lords. An amendment (305ZA) tabled by Lord Young requires the Secretary of State to prepare a scheme for transferring the HRE from the Secretary of State to GBR, ensuring that non-operational railway structures receive the same engineering expertise, economies of scale, and strategic decision-making support as operational structures. GBR is expected to take over the operation of most of the UK's railway infrastructure and passenger services one year after the Railways Bill receives Royal Assent.