Labour plans to nationalise trains ‘within five years’

TRAIN passengers would be automatically refunded for delayed journeys under Labour plans to nationalise the railways, the shadow transport secretary is expected to announce today.

Louise Haigh will use a speech at Trainline’s London HQ this morning to reveal plans to bring trains into state ownership within five years if Labour wins the next General Election.

And it intends to use mobile phone apps to automate the existing Delay Repay scheme, which lets passengers claim refunds for rail journeys delayed by more than 15 minutes.

Travellers will also be given a “bestprice ticket guarantee” if they use a government-approved app to buy fares. The aim is to stop passengers paying too much for fares bought from individual operators and third-party websites.

Ms Haigh will say: “Labour will deliver the biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation. Whilst the Conservatives are content to let Britain’s broken railways fail passengers, Labour will deliver root and branch reform.

“Labour’s detailed plans will get our railways back on track; driving up standards for passengers, bringing down costs for taxpayers, driving growth and getting Britain moving.”

Labour say the country’s private railway operators can be brought under full state control “without the taxpayer paying a penny in compensation costs”.

Ms Haigh told The Telegraph: “A modern transport system should be the backbone of a growing economy and public services fit for the future. But years of Conservative chaos on our railways is holding Britain back.”

But rail industry sources reacted with dismay to the nationalisation plans and raised concerns that the changes would lead to tax rises for the public.

Andy Bagnall, the chief executive of trade association Rail Partners, said: “Train companies agree change is needed, but nationalisation is a political rather than a practical solution which will increase costs over time.”