The world's most efficient nationalised rail networks

Keir Starmer has pledged to nationalise the railways (Picture: Getty Images)

In case you missed it, this week Labour leader Keir Starmer pledged that, if elected, Labour would renationalise the railways within five years of coming into power.

Ownership of the British railway system has been a political hot potato for decades now. It was first nationalised (AKA, brought into public ownership) by Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee in 1948, and later reprivatised by Conservative PM John Major in 1993 under the Railways Act.

Met with waves of strikes over pay and working conditions, services have been disrupted in recent years, and while the Conservatives pledged to improve connections between London and various other UK cities through HS2, it’s faced a number of issues that have led to delays in its opening.

Likewise, there have been problems with the various private companies operating the services. Avanti West Coast was recently named the most unreliable train service in Britain, with 15.36% of all trains being cancelled or delayed by 15 minutes or more, equating to 1,289,833 lost minutes.

The trains were first nationalised under Labour in 1948 (Picture by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

So, with all these troubles in mind, what would a nationalised rail network look like here? Under Sir Keir’s plans, Great British Railways would allow best-price ticket guarantees, automatic delay repay and digital season tickets.

From Germany to Argentina, there are nationalised models across the world that we can look to for inspiration, many of which are relatively efficient (and, crucially, cheaper for ticket holders).

Germany

In Germany, Deutsche Bahn operates most of Germany’s railways. And, considering it’s such a large country, the connections have to run smoothly.

Prices: The German railway system is certainly considers accessible pricing a priority. In 2023, it introduced unlimited travel for £1.40 per day, with the Є49-a-month digital Deutschlandticket intended to cut CO2 emissions.

The subscription has been renewed for 2024 and can be booked either online or at railway stations.

Deutsche Bahn trains are fairly reliable (Picture: Getty Images)

Delays: In March 2024, approximately 91% of trains arrived on time with delays of no more than 5.59 minutes on average.

But in December 2023, punctuality of Deutsche Bahn trains reportedly dropped to a record low, with around 75% of long-distance trains slowing down on their way through a construction site. The punctuality figure for 2023 overall was 91.7% – still not too shabby.

Argentina

Argentina first introduced its railway system in 1857, and by the end of World War II, the network had exceeded 29,000 miles in length.

In 1948, inspired by Clement Attlee’s policy in the UK, the Argentinian government nationalised foreign-owned railways.

Prices: Railway fares in Argentina are relatively affordable, with a journey from Buenos Aires to Cordoba, which takes around 1 hour and 27 minutes, costing roughly £25.

The Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) is a gorgeous route (Picture: Getty Images)

Delays: However, it’s not such good news on the delays front. Various Reddit threads have discussed the reliability of Argentina’s railway, with one writing that the network is in ‘very poor condition.’

‘In the interior of the country there are almost none, and some trains reach approximately 20 km per hour,’ a user with the name @vinoyporro commented.

Many of the train routes are beautifully picturesque though, particularly the Tren de la Costa (Train of the Coast), which runs from Buenos Aires through Tigre, which is the gateway to the Paraná Delta.

Canada

The Canadian National Railways was founded in 1918, and ever since, Canada’s extensive railway network has been in public control. Famous for its beautiful routes, some of the most stunning journeys include Vancouver to Toronto, Montreal to Halifax, and Winnipeg to Churchill.

The transcontinental line runs from Canada’s east coast through to Vancouver and Prince Rupert in the west, whilst Canadian National similarly transports various goods including coal, automative parts and agricultural goods.

Canada is home to some seriously pretty rail routes (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

Prices: Prices are fairly reasonable, with a one-way ticket from London, Ontario to Toronto (which takes just over 2 hours) costing around £30.

Delays: In 2021, 72% of Canadian trains reached their destination on time, while in 2022, this figure dropped to 57%.

But experience-wise, nothing beats taking the train, according to one Reddit user.

‘Train is way better [than the bus.] I got the day sleeper and brought a sleeping bag. I was young so I could handle it. Also, sometimes I’d just climb into the luggage rack and sleep there,’ wrote @english_major.

Italy

Another country famous for its beautiful railway routes, Italy’s most scenic journeys include Rome to Sicily, Reggio Calabria to Scilla, Venice to Florence and, of course, Cinque Terre between Levanto and La Spezia.

The Italian railway system was nationalised in 1905, with Trenitalia now being the country’s main train operator.

Italy’s trains were nationalised in 1905 (Picture: Getty Images)

Prices: If you’re looking to take the train in Italy, prices are fairly reasonable, but you’ll need to book in advance to secure the best deals (particularly during the summer when rail travel gets busy.)

For a 40-minute Freccia Rossa train between Bologna Centrale and Florence, for example, prices are around Є11 (£9.50). A longer train (between Rome and Milan, which takes between 7 and 8 hours) is available for as little as Є35 (£35).

Delays: Trenitalia’s trains are relatively efficient, with data finding that in 2018, only 10.6% of medium and long-distance trains were delayed by over five minutes. For regional trains, this figure was just 5.6%.

See you on the platform, train spotters!

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