The new UK transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has announced plans to make Sunday train services as reliable as those on weekdays.

The initiative forms part of a wider strategy to renationalise the railways, detailed in Alexander's forthcoming keynote speech.

Central to this plan is the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), a new public entity set to be established through legislation later this year.

GBR is anticipated to become a significant national body, second only to the National Health Service (NHS) in terms of size and importance, with an expected workforce of around 90,000 people.

This move involves transitioning the rail network to national ownership as private operators' franchises expire, consolidating the management of both trains and tracks under GBR’s framework.

However, the proposal faces challenges.

Industry experts express skepticism about achieving comparable Sunday service reliability without addressing the issue of union agreements.

These agreements currently do not mandate Sunday working for train drivers.

Last year, major disruptions on Sundays were reported, such as state-run Northern trains cancelling 282 services in one day due to staffing shortages.

Norman Baker, a former rail minister, highlighted the need to renegotiate these agreements or increase Sunday work compensation.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), indicated a willingness to engage in discussions concerning changes, emphasizing the importance of fair labor conditions.

In her speech, Alexander is expected to emphasize the shift from a profit-driven rail system to one serving the public good, with potential impacts on economic growth and regional service customization by local authorities.

The government has also committed to transparency, with plans to display train delay and cancellation statistics at stations across England.