Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

The Government, represented by the Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, presented the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill as the first major piece of legislation under the new Labour government. Haigh argued that the bill fulfills a key manifesto commitment to end the "30-year ideological privatised experiment" on the railways that has failed passengers, failed to modernise, and failed the economy. The Secretary of State asserted that public ownership will bring immediate benefits, with railways serving the British public rather than private profits. She pledged to use every tool available to drive up performance, including terminating contracts early where operators continue to let passengers down. Haigh acknowledged the bill is not a silver bullet, but the first step in a journey to create a "modern railway for a modern Britain" under the leadership of the new Great British Railways. In response, the official opposition, represented by Helen Whately, the shadow Transport Secretary, recognized the Government's mandate to nationalise the railways but remained unconvinced by the arguments. Whately argued the Government has failed to address key issues around controlling costs, particularly workforce costs, pointing to the "no strings, no modernisation" pay deal with the ASLEF union. She criticized the Government for voting down opposition amendments that sought to ensure public operators serve the needs of passengers and have independent oversight of pay and conditions. Whately questioned why the Government was rushing the bill through with limited scrutiny, suggesting it may be to appease backbenchers or union donors rather than a substantive reform. She urged the Government to reconsider the opposition's proposed amendments during the bill's passage through the House of Lords, in order to better protect passengers and taxpayers. The broader debate covered a range of topics, including the need for independent monitoring and reporting on the performance and costs of public operators, the role of devolved and local authorities in rail services, and the treatment of open access operators. Members from across the House delivered impressive maiden speeches highlighting the importance of rail connectivity for their diverse constituencies. The Government defended its approach, arguing existing mechanisms provide sufficient oversight and that a more flexible, less prescriptive approach in legislation is appropriate. Ultimately, the Government's bill passed its Third Reading without amendment.