The Labour Party has announced plans to bring the entire UK rail network into public ownership if it wins the next general election. A new national operator called Great British Railways (GBR) would be created to gradually take control of the tracks as existing private contracts expire. The move would abolish individual franchises and Network Rail, bringing tracks and trains together under one banner. Labour believes the plan would improve services for passengers and reduce costs for taxpayers, but industry figures warn it could end up being more expensive in the long run.