Official announcements from the UK Department for Transport or relevant government publications

UK Parliament Passes Landmark Rail Public Ownership Bill

Nov 20, 2024, 03:29 PM

The UK Parliament has passed the Rail Public Ownership Bill, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at bringing Britain's railways under public ownership. The bill, which was initially considered with amendments from the Lords, was ultimately passed by the Commons. Labour MPs, including Louise Haigh, have emphasized that the bill will make the railways passenger-focused, publicly owned, and fit for the future. The government plans to start the process of bringing train services back into public hands following Royal Assent. This move is seen as a response to the public's demand for greater control and improved standards in the railway system. The bill is also the first major step towards publicly owned Great British Railways, with calls for rolling stock to be included in public ownership.