Recent comments from senior Labour figures have put the UK–EU relationship back at the centre of British politics.

➢ Wes Streeting has called Brexit a “catastrophic mistake” and said Britain’s future lies “one day, back in the EU”. 

➢ Andy Burnham has also acknowledged the long-term case for rejoining the EU.

But this raises a basic question:

How can the UK talk seriously about moving closer to the EU while closing its railway market?

The UK Government’s Railways Bill and the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) move in the opposite direction from the Single European Railway Area. Instead of market opening and non-discriminatory access, the Bill would centralise control, replace competitive tendering with direct awards and create a taxpayer-funded rail behemoth.

This is not alignment. It is divergence.

The EU Single European Railway Area is based on open markets, fair access and competition between operators, both public and private.

A closed, centralised British rail model, with higher subsidy risk and weaker competitive pressure, points the other way.

ALLRAIL therefore calls for the current Railways Bill to be paused until there is greater clarity on the UK’s long-term relationship with the EU.

Instead, UK passenger rail policy should support:

➣ Competitive tendering for concession contracts;
➣ Continued and expanded Open Access competition in long-distance rail;
➣ Fair and non-discriminatory access for independent operators.

The UK cannot claim to be moving closer to the EU while closing one of its most important transport markets.