Public ownership of GWR is 'absolutely critical'
BBCPlans to renationalise the South West's biggest rail company have been labelled by experts and politicians as "absolutely critical".
The government confirmed on Friday a decision to take Great Western Railway (GWR) back into public ownership on 13 December when its contract with the Department for Transport ends.
GWR, which is based in Swindon, runs services linking London to the south-west of England and South Wales.
Andrew Bowes-Roden, the Cornwall-based editor of Modern Railways Magazine, said the move "has got to happen", whereas opponents of the decision said it made government accountability "virtually non-existent".
Bowes-Roden told the BBC: "It's got to happen because we are talking about thousands of jobs coming into Plymouth very soon.
"No city's roads will cope with that sort of influx of people commuting into the city, so it's an absolutely critical scheme."
Perran Moon, Labour MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, said: "An absolutely core policy commitment in the General Election Labour Party manifesto was the setting up of GB Rail and renationalising of the train operating companies.
"Privatisation of our railways was a fundamentally flawed policy and I'm pretty sure this renationalisation will be welcomed, not only by those that use GWR, but also the many people that work on our trains too."
Rebecca Smith, the Conservative MP for South West Devon, said: "I remain incredibly sceptical about the impact this is going to have because the government haven't actually got the detail in place yet."
Smith, who also sits on the House of Commons Transport Committee, said it would be hard to "hold the government to account".
She said: "Accountability is going to be virtually non-existent because everything's going to be run by regional business units that are not elected.
"So, if we don't see enhancements to services, we're not going to be able as voters or as elected politicians to hold Great Western Railway to account."
Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth said: "The proof of the rail service will be in the journey.
"Public or private, people want trains that are efficient and punctual.
"That will be the test that we Liberal Democrats and other passengers will apply to the nationalised service."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "This is another significant moment for the government's flagship public ownership programme and brings a simpler, more reliable network under Great British Railway a step closer.
"The government is delivering on its commitment to bring services back into public ownership and put passengers, not shareholders, at the heart of our railways."
