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Britain’s privately owned train operating companies could begin returning control of their networks as early as July 5 if Labour wins the general election.
Boris Johnson’s vision of a new Great British Railways to replace the privatised franchise system has been halted by the dissolution of parliament due to the snap election. The Rail Reform Bill, which was under committee review, has been scrapped.
Should the Labour Party emerge victorious and implement its proposed railway reforms, the future of private sector involvement in the national network may be uncertain. According to industry publication Railnews, “It is now beyond doubt that the present National Rail passenger contracts in England will be terminated at the first available ‘break point’ and earlier if an operator ‘fails to deliver’.”
There are indications that private train operators might consider handing back their contracts to the Department for Transport ahead of schedule, pre-empting Labour’s policies. This move could avoid uncertainty and align with the transition to a new integrated rail body. In recent years, failing operations have led to several train networks, including LNER, Southeastern, TransPennine, and Northern, reverting to government control under OLR Holdings, the operator of last resort.
Labour has pledged to establish a new arm’s-length integrated rail body to oversee the industry. This body, envisioned as a more directive institution compared to the Conservative “guiding mind,” would manage train networks directly rather than through private sector concessions.
Instead of immediate wholesale renationalisation, Labour might take control of the legacy franchises as their current contracts expire. However, given the potential lack of a long-term role in the new system, train companies might choose to terminate their contracts early, returning control to the government.
In an interesting development, Huw Merriman, the Conservative rail minister, could play a role in Labour’s reformed railways. Merriman, a respected former chairman of the cross-party transport select committee, has resigned as a Tory MP, sparking speculation about his possible senior position in the new integrated rail body under a Labour government.
