Party proposes government-run ‘one-stop shop’ for all train trips
Credit: PA
Labour would create a “one-stop shop” for rail tickets to rival Trainline website if it moves into government after the election.
The new service would form part of their plans to nationalise the entire industry within five years of coming to power. The party says the new central online booking portal would replace the “confusing ticket sales of private train operators”.
But the site would also be a major competitor to third-party companies such a Trainline, which floated on the London Stock Exchange this summer with a valuation of £2.2bn.
Labour says the new site would be necessary to simplify the process of purchasing tickets form the various operators, after research shows there are 55 million types of fare available.
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Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said of the plans: “Labour’s publicly owned rail company will provide a simple one-stop shop for ticket information and purchase, replacing the confusing ticket sales of private train operators. The independent ticketing websites and apps that currently provide a valuable service will continue as at present.”
It comes as Labour also revealed plans to make England one of the best countries in the world for walking and cycling.
If they win the election the party has promised to create a new healthy streets programme, modelled on towns in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Labour is promising 5,000km of cycleways built, as well as providing universal affordable access to bicycles and grants for e-bike purchases.
