The Rail Minister has reversed an earlier rejection and agreed that the watchdog's future chair should face the Transport Committee.
Ruth Cadbury has secured a government commitment for the future chair of the new rail passengers' council to undergo a pre-appointment hearing in Parliament.
The Transport Committee first recommended the change in its February report on the Railways Bill. Rail Minister Lord Hendy initially rejected the proposal in July.
Cadbury wrote again in September, arguing that scrutiny was needed to reinforce the council's independence. In a letter dated 12 October, Lord Hendy said he had reconsidered and would pursue adding the post to the formal list of appointments subject to a committee hearing.
The list already includes the chairs of the Office of Rail and Road and the Civil Aviation Authority. A hearing would allow MPs to assess the preferred candidate before a formal appointment.
Cadbury said the change would make it harder for the Government to install a chair without an independent assessment and would strengthen the watchdog's credibility with passengers.
The commitment changes the planned appointment process. It does not determine who will lead the council or guarantee that a committee recommendation would be binding on ministers.
