UK Parliament approves rail re-nationalisation plan

21 Nov 2024 CW Team

The UK Parliament has approved legislation proposed by the Labour government to renationalise the country’s rail services, moving them back into public ownership under the management of ‘Great British Railways’. The bill allows rail operators to be nationalised upon the expiration of their private contracts or earlier in cases of mismanagement.

The move was hailed as a ‘landmark’ by the TSSA rail union after an attempt by opposition Conservatives to amend the legislation was narrowly defeated in the House of Lords by 213 votes to 210. TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust described the decision as a victory for public transport, emphasising that railways belong "in public hands as a vital service."

Labour, which returned to power in July after 14 years in opposition, campaigned on promises to overhaul the nation’s struggling transport services. The government confirmed it would not need to pay compensation to private rail operators, as current contracts will expire by 2027.

The privatisation of UK rail services began in the mid-1990s under then-Conservative Prime Minister John Major, though the rail network itself remained under public control via Network Rail. In recent years, four of England's 14 rail operators were temporarily brought under state control due to poor performance.

Scotland and Wales, where transport policies are managed by devolved administrations, already operate state-owned rail services.

British railways have faced significant challenges, including widespread strikes over pay and working conditions, persistent train cancellations, and passenger dissatisfaction with high ticket prices, all exacerbated by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

(ET)

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..