Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has revealed that public ownership of railways does not guarantee better service for passengers. Speaking in Manchester at an event for rail industry leaders, Alexander disclosed that more than 10% of trains on the northern UK state-run Northern line have been cancelled and that many in the region have been disappointed for too long. Alexander presented her priorities for the year ahead, which include publishing station performance data, as well as reforming the fares and ticketing system to ensure a “best price guarantee.”
However, Shadow Transport Secretary Gareth Bacon dismissed Alexander’s announcement, claiming that “quick fixes and hollow announcements will not improve services for passengers or drive economic growth.” The Tory manifesto included public ownership of the train operating companies, and Northern was taken into public ownership in 2020. Following the takeover, the company’s performance has failed to improve. Alexander has vowed to hold the Department for Transport Operators accountable for delivering Northern’s published improvement plan, but gave no elaboration on how.
Alexander also said there is an urgent need to unify train operators and Network Rail, which manages the railway infrastructure. Specifically, the government wants closer collaboration to reduce duplication, simplify track and train management, and create more accountability. The Tory government is developing a new operating body, Great British Railways, which Alexander believes will be essential in realising “one integrated team, relentlessly focused on the passenger.”
Great British Railways is a publicly owned body that will be responsible for overseeing the rail system in England, Wales and Scotland. Furthermore, Alexander has highlighted that more trials of pay as you go will be carried out, as well as AI innovation to enhance passenger experience and efficiency. Despite the announcement of Great British Railways, Labour continues to support public ownership of the railways
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