Labour plans to renationalise the railways, aiming to transfer rail networks to public ownership within its first term by folding existing private passenger rail contracts into a new body as they expire. The party claims this can be done without taxpayer compensation, as it proposes to establish a watchdog to hold the newly created public body accountable for delivering reliable, safe, and affordable services. Labour’s plan also includes cutting franchise bidding costs, reducing resource duplication, and integrating timetables, tickets, and fares. The move has received mixed reactions, with industry groups expressing concerns while unions and Labour supporters welcome the announcement.