Labour delivers nationalised railway with South Western Railway, leading the track back into public hands.

Renationalised railways not on track for cheaper fares Image source: PA Image caption: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander "would love to be able" to promise fares will fall under renationalisation By Sean Dilley & Dearbail Jordan All aboard! The government has announced that South Western Railway (SWR) has been brought into public ownership on Sunday, marking the first train company to be nationalised under Labour. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described this move as a "new dawn for rail". Though the prospect of lower fares under renationalisation seems uncertain, as Alexander revealed that the day-to-day running of trains is already heavily subsidised by the taxpayer. Rather than focusing on reducing ticket prices, the government's priority will be improving services and infrastructure. The first service by the renationalised SWR departed at 05:36 on Sunday from Woking to Surbiton, albeit the ongoing journey to London Waterloo was replaced by a bus due to engineering work. SWR trains are now under the management of the Department for Transport (DfT) Operator and will be integrated into Great British Railways (GBR), the overseeing body for all railway infrastructure. While GBR won't be fully established until MPs vote in the autumn, the DfT will be in charge in the meantime. During a visit to a train depot in Bournemouth, Alexander addressed the question of whether ticket prices will decrease: "I can't promise you that. I would love to be able to do that, but the truth is that, on an annual basis, the taxpayer subsidises the day-to-day running of trains by £2bn." Despite the uncertainty of fare reductions, Alexander assured that efforts will be made to ensure customers receive good value for money. The Labour Party's move to renationalise train operators has sparked debates among the public. Some individuals believe that cheaper fares should be at the core of renationalisation. Lauren, who traveled to Bournemouth with friends, expressed disappointment at the lack of price reductions, stating, "If we're not going to have any price reductions, it is not going to benefit the consumers." Caroline, part of the same group, explained that they opted for an electric car instead of the train due to high ticket prices. Another traveler, Adam, highlighted the significant price difference between train travel in the UK and Europe, emphasizing the need for affordable and efficient rail services. While it remains unclear if fares will decrease in the near future, the government is hopeful that rail travel costs will be reduced once GBR is formally established. The completion of renationalising nearly all passenger rail services in England by 2027 is also on the horizon. So all aboard the nationalised train service - while cheaper fares may not be guaranteed, improved services and infrastructure are on the right track! Tags: renationalised, railways, fares, government, ticket