I'm in favour of nationalisation for UK rail simply because privatisation of UK rail has been a mess. This article highlights the lack of detail in the plans though, particularly concerns about fares which have not been addressed.<p>Can nationalisation work? Back in 2009, a privatised rail service (East Coast Line) was nationalised when the private operators failed their financial commitments. The state-run line was run for 5 years and returned £1bn in premiums, as well as several million in profits to government coffers. A successful example of nationalisation - but simply not acceptable for the Conservative government who promptly returned the line to private hands in 2015. [1]<p>The UK already has some of the most expensive rail tickets in Europe. Yes, you can book in advance for cheaper tickets, but often there is limited availability, and you have to book at least a month or longer in advance. In short, the conditions which make cheaper tickets available are simply impractical for most passengers, especially regular commuters.<p>I've posted this before: a monthly season ticket comparison from 2017 for UK and Continental Europe. The price differences between UK and other countries is eye-watering:<p>- <i>UK</i>: Luton to London St. Pancras (35 miles) | Monthly season ticket cost: £387 (approx $547/€448)<p>- <i>UK</i>: Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly (32 miles) | Monthly season ticket cost: £292 (approx $412 /€344)<p>- <i>Germany</i>: Dusseldorf to Cologne (28 miles) | Monthly season ticket cost: £85 (approx $120 /€98)<p>- <i>France</i>: Mantes-la-Jolie to Paris (34 miles) | Monthly season ticket cost: £61 (approx $86 /€71)<p>- <i>Italy</i>: Anzione to Rome (31 miles) | Monthly season ticket cost: £61 (approx $86 /€71)<p>- <i>Spain</i>: Aranjuez to Madrid (31 miles) | Monthly season ticket cost: £75 (approx $106 /€87)<p>Source: <a href="https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/uk-commuters-spend-6-times-much-their-salary-rail-fares-other-european-passengers" rel="nofollow">https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/uk-commuters-spend-6-times-much-...</a><p>[1] "East Coast rail line returns to private hands": <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/01/east-coast-rail-line-returns-to-private-hands" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/01/east-coast-r...</a>