British railways would come back under public ownership under Labour plans

A Labour government would aim to bring the UK’s entire rail network into public ownership in its first term, the shadow transport secretary has announced.

Louise Haigh said a new national operator named Great British Railways (GBR) would be created if the party is victorious at the next general election expected later this year.

The arm’s-length public body would gradually take control of the tracks as existing private contracts expire.