Lords approve government bill to renationalise railways

Britain’s railways are set to come back into public ownership after legislation to renationalise the train services was passed by members of the House of Lords.

- DAVID MADDOX

Sources in the government expressed surprise at the speed with which peers voted through the Passenger Rail Services (Public Ownership) Bill, but it now only needs Royal assent to go into law.

The vote in the Lords means that Sir Keir Starmer’s government has achieved its first major public service reform since coming into office on 5 July.

A proud Sir Keir tweeted: “We said we would create Great British Railways. We are. “

It is also a major victory for the besieged transport secretary Louise Haigh, whose job prospects were being questioned recently after her comments about the hire and fire practices at P&O Ferries led to its owner DP World threatening to withdraw £1bn of investment.

Ms Haigh has been leading the push for socialist reforms in the government not just on rail but attempting to bring bus services back under great public control by handing powers on routes to local authorities.