Jeremy Corbyn Set To Announce Plans To Renationalise The Railways At Labour Party Conference

5 Railway Lines That Jeremy Corbyn Could Renationalise After 2020
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Jeremy Corbyn will announce the full renationalisation of Britain's railway network at his first Labour Party conference as Labour leader next week.

His plans for a "People's Railway" will mean bringing railway lines back into public ownership would be a priority for a Labour government in 2020.

He will announce the policy at the party's autumn conference which starts in Brighton next Sunday.

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Jeremy Corbyn is due to address his first party conference as Labour leader

Previous opinion polls have shown wide support for bringing rail franchises back into state control, a feeling flamed by ever-rising season ticket prices and relatively poor levels of service.

Corbyn told The Independent on Sunday: “We know there is overwhelming support from the British people for a People’s Railway, better and more efficient services, proper integration and fairer fares.

"On this issue, it won’t work to have a nearly-but-not-quite position. Labour will commit to a clear plan for a fully integrated railway in public ownership.”

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The rail franchise schedule reveals five lines that come up for renewal between 2020 and 2025

Lilian Greenwood, the new shadow Transport Secretary, will steer a party taskforce to develop the plans, with an emphasis on persuading the public that "change is overdue," a source said.

It it thought that Corbyn will advocate a staged policy of bringing individual franchises back into public ownership as they expire over the next decade.

Franchises are currently in place across the rail network, for example, the Southeastern London to Kent line, and the Virgin Trains East and West coast lines.

Figures from the Government (PDF) detail the first lines that could be renationalised should Labour win power in 2020.

And here are the five franchises that will be due for renewal in the next parliament...

Schedule Of Rail Franchises 2020-2025
Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern - September 2021(01 of05)
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Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises are due for renewal in September 2021, and would be the first chance for a Corbyn-led Labour government to bring rail lines back into public ownership. (credit:Andrew Matthews/PA Archive)
Chiltern Railways - December 2021(02 of05)
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Chiltern Railways run trains out of Maryleborne station in central London. The line is due for renewal in December 2021 - and a full competitive bidding process is scheduled to begin a year earlier.Corbyn would be able to scrap the bidding process and bring the line back into public ownership, if he has a mandate in 2020. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Archive)
East Coast - March 2023(03 of05)
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Virgin Trains and partner Stagecoach Group Plc. started their eight year service in March 2015, after the line was previously under state ownership.It is due for renewal in March 2023. (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Transpennine Express - April 2023(04 of05)
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Transpennine Express is currently operated by First Group, but is due for renewal in April 2023. (credit:Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Northern - April 2025(05 of05)
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Northern Rail is currently a Serco and Abellio joint venture. It would be the last franchise to come up for renewal during the 2020-25 parliament in April 2025. (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Archive)

However, rail firms say their contribution to public transport must also be recognised. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents Network Rail and train operators, said: “When rail franchising was introduced the railway ran at a £2bn a year loss in terms of its day to day costs but today, it virtually covers its running expenses.

"This phenomenal financial turnaround has happened because journeys have grown faster here than on many other European railways, resulting in almost six times more money being paid back by train operators to government for rail investment."