The British government is renationalizing the rail route between London and Edinburgh, taking back the line from a private company after it over-estimated profits, in a step likely to reignite a debate over public ownership of the U.K.'s railways.
The government said on Wednesday it was scrapping the contract with London-listed Stagecoach five years early and would operate the line, which carries 22 million people annually, for two to three years before setting up a new public-private partnership.
It is the third time since 2007 that the 393-mile (632-km) flagship route between the English and Scottish capitals has been returned to government hands after contracts failed, giving ammunition to the opposition Labour party, which opposes privatization.