Policy paper

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

This bill will set the legal framework for transferring passenger rail service operations into public ownership.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 18 July 2024
• Last updated: 18 July 2024 — See all updates

This was published under the 2024 to 2026 Starmer Labour government

This publication was withdrawn on 15 July 2026

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill received Royal Assent on 28 November 2024 and is now the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024.

Documents

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/56107/documents/5034

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill explanatory notes

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/56108/documents/5037

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill impact assessment

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/56457/documents/5187

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill delegated powers memorandum

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Details

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill amends specific provisions in the Railways Act 1993 to allow passenger service operations to be transferred into public ownership when current national rail contracts end.

The bill supports the government’s manifesto commitment to transferring passenger rail service operations into public ownership as part of a broader plan for the railways.

See Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill third reading speech.

Published 18 July 2024

Last updated 18 July 2024 — Show all updates

1. 18 July 2024

   Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill delegated powers memorandum added.

2. 18 July 2024

   First published.