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Flagship UK government plans to renationalise rail passenger services have become law.
The granting of royal assent to the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) bill was announced by the Lord Speaker John McFall at the start of proceedings in the upper chamber on Thursday.
The landmark legislation will enable the government to take over services from private firms as their franchises expire or are broken.
This will allow the administration to avoid having to pay fees to companies for ending existing contracts early.
Transport Minister Peter Hendy had previously hailed the bill as ‘the first step towards unravelling a failing, fragmented system’ with trains ‘run for the public by the public’.
During the passage of the legislation through Parliament, the government announced a package of measures aimed at ensuring improvements for disabled rail passengers, including making clear in law that publicly owned train operators are subject to a legally binding equality duty.
By Nick Lester, Chief Lords Reporter
Press Association: News
source: PA
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