Labour’s renationalised railways ‘can’t guarantee’ lower train fares, shadow transport minister says

Labour “can’t guarantee” their pledge to renationalise the railways if elected would bring in lower train fares, the shadow transport secretary has said.

The party would expect to transfer rail networks to public ownership within its first term by folding existing private passenger rail contracts into a new body as they expire, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh will say at a launch event on Thursday.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast ahead of the event, Ms Haigh said: “Today I can’t guarantee we’ll lower fares... we’ll simplify them.

“We will have an ambition for a best fare guarantee.”