Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party wants to fast-track the re-nationalisation of Britain's railway network if it comes to power, it has emerged at its conference in Brighton.
The party has previously indicated it wanted to bring lines back into public ownership when each regional franchise expires, a process that would have begun from 2021.
However, its National Executive Committee, which determines party policy, said it would not necessarily wait - using “break clauses” to intervene sooner.
The rail franchise schedule reveals five lines that come up for renewal between 2020 and 2025
Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, which has been pushing for full re-nationalisation of the railways for years, said that he had “never, ever been happier”.
He told conference: "We are telling the British people that there is clear red water between us and the Tories when it comes to our railways. We will be running our railways in the interests of passengers and taxpayers."
The policy is a significant shift from Ed Miliband's manifesto pledge. He wanted the state to be able to bid for contracts, rather than handing them over as a matter of course, when the deals came up for renewal.
In her speech to delegates, Shadow Transport Secretary Lillian Greenwood said: "It is time for our railways to be run under public ownership, in the public interest, with affordable fares for all."
Here are the five franchises that will be due for renewal in the next parliament:
Schedule Of Rail Franchises 2020-2025
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