MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Jim McMahon, says legislation to bring railways back into public ownership would benefit people in Oldham and beyond.

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, introduced by the new government, has been moving through the legislative stages in Parliament, first passing through the Commons and now being scrutinised in the Lords.

Britain’s railways were privatised in the early 1990s to try and leverage private investment into them.

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The Department for Transport has previously said that the government is focused on "reversing decades of delays, cancellations and unreliable services on Britain’s railways".

In recent years, both Northern Trains and Transpennine Express have had their franchises terminated by the previous government due to continued disruption on their services.

Mr McMahon has said the Bill would lead to the improvement of rail services across the country and provide people with more affordable travel.

READ MORE: Oldham motorists warned Transpennine upgrade disruption risk

Jim McMahon said: “Despite being in office for a little over three months, we have delivered for passengers. Not only have we put our economy on a sure footing with inflation now at its lowest level for three-and-a-half years, but we have also put a swift and decisive end to the rail strikes and started making the structural reform needed to drive-up living standards.

“Introducing the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill is part of this plan, which will improve rail services across our country without wasting public money propping-up private operators or buying out shareholders.

“With the Bee Network continuing to be rolled out across Greater Manchester, its integration deepening, and commuter rail services being set to join the network in a few years; local people will be getting more affordable, more punctual, and better-quality public transport services. Doing so will ease cost-of-living pressures and create fertile ground for more well-paid and secure jobs.”

Former Transport Secretary, Lord Garyling, has warned renationalising rail passenger services will bring the industry back into competition for cash with other areas of Government at budget time.