Labour Announces Five-Year Plan for Rail Nationalisation: Cheapest Fares, Reforms, and Productivity Gains
Labour plans to nationalize the UK's passenger rail network within five years of forming a government.
This will involve bringing all passenger rail under public ownership as contracts with private operators expire.
The new entity, Great British Railways, will oversee the nationalized network.
Labour aims to guarantee the cheapest fares and save £2.2bn by cutting waste and clawing back shareholder dividends.
The plan is endorsed by the architect of the Conservatives' own rail privatization plan.
Labour plans to establish a Passenger Standards Authority as a watchdog for a new railway system.
This system will provide best-price ticket guarantees, automatic delay repay, and digital season tickets across the network.
Shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, will announce this in a speech on Thursday, positioning it as a key part of Labour's mission to improve rail services for passengers.
Insiders see this as a significant moment for the party to embrace more radical proposals, following recent U-turns on issues like green investment.
A Labour source revealed that Haigh's rail reform plan is a significant part of Labour's strategy to demonstrate bold policy changes and counter the perception of meager reform plans.
The plan will emphasize productivity and cost savings, as well as contribute to Keir Starmer's "five missions." Haigh will criticize the Conservatives for inaction in the rail sector.