East rail firms among first to be renationalised

Two of the East of England's rail operators will be among the first to be taken back into public ownership, following a recent change in the law.

The government said c2c, which runs services in south Essex, would be renationalised in July, and Greater Anglia, which runs trains to Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street, would follow in the autumn.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said "our broken railways are finally on the fast track to repair", adding that ending the use of private firms would lead to a better service for passengers. Opposition figures have disagreed.

Greater Anglia said it would work to ensure a "smooth transition" and c2c said it was "committed to our customers".

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act is one of the first pieces of legislation to be taken through Parliament by the new government.

It allows ministers to take rail companies back into public ownership when their existing contracts expire.

With Greater Anglia's original contract already expired but on a discretionary extension and c2c's ending next July, it was always expected that the two companies would be among the first to be renationalised.

The two firms will follow South Western Railway in returning to public control during 2025.

Some have criticised the plans, arguing that public ownership will not make much difference unless it is paired with investment in the railways.

Labour MPs in the region, however, have welcomed the news.

Alice MacDonald, the MP for Norwich North, said: "The trains aren't working for people and that's what we need to change. Ultimately, what this will mean is a better service for customers."

Jen Craft, Labour MP for Thurrock, added: "As a frequent commuter on c2c, I'm really pleased that this will be one of the first franchises to be brought into public ownership.

"This move will deliver better value for money for taxpayers and passengers alike, and put passengers like myself and many of my constituents at the heart of decision-making on the network."

Meanwhile, Will Russell, leader of the Conservative group at Brentwood Borough Council, said: "State ownership may burden taxpayers with the financial implications of subsidising poorly performing services while diverting funds from essential public services.

"Additionally, this move could stifle competition, reducing incentives for companies to enhance services and invest in infrastructure, ultimately leading to a decline in train travel quality."

There will be a transition period of a couple of months around each transfer, to avoid any adverse impact on passengers.

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said: "We look forward to working with the Department for Transport and ensuring a smooth transition to public ownership.

"Train services, timetables and station facilities will be unaffected by this announcement, with no changes to ticket validities or conditions of carriage."

The managing director of c2c, Rob Mullen, said: "This does not create a change in focus for the team at c2c; we remain committed to our customers, communities and colleagues."

The contracts for Thameslink, Great Northern and East Midlands Trains are also due to expire within the next two years and are likely to be next on the list for renationalisation.

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