Labour steps up rail re-nationalisation campaign
Labour Party to introduce a bill in Parliament on Wednesday that would allow a state-owned train operator to bid for lucrative rail franchises. Labour will on Wednesday call for a change to the law that could lead to the re-nationalisation of Britain’s railways.
Andy Sawford, MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, will propose a bill that would allow a train operator owned by the British taxpayer to compete against private companies for lucrative contracts to run rail lines.
The bill, which will be proposed immediately after Prime Minister’s questions, will mark a significant step-up in Labour’s campaign to partially re-nationalise the railways, after party leader, Ed Miliband, signalled this summer that he would intervene in the industry, two decades after it was privatised by John Major’s Conservative Government.
Private transport companies are expecting the railways to become a major political battle ground in the run up to the General Election, as Labour argues that taxpayers in this country should be able to profit from Britain’s railways.
Mr Miliband said in August that train operators controlled by other European Governments, such as Arriva, Keolis and Abellio, are allowed to run rail lines in this country but a company owned by the UK taxpayer is not able to bid for lucrative rail franchises.
