Andy McDonald responds to the potential renationalisation of Northern Rail

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to comments from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps about the potential renationalisation of Northern Rail, said:

“Northern Rail’s incompetent operator should have been stripped of its contract years ago over its abysmal performance record. The government’s refusal to do so has meant massive inconvenience for rail passengers and damage to the region’s economy. 

"The service should be taken into public ownership at the soonest opportunity, but so should the rest of the railway. A railway is an interconnected system that will work best when it is integrated under public ownership, as Labour will do.“

Ends

Notes to editors

• ·        Northern Rail could be renationalised, says Grant Shapps: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/northern-rail-set-to-be-renationalised-w3x7559rf