Transport ministers have spent more than £5,400 of public funds on a reception held in the Palace of Westminster for MPs, their staff, and executives from state-run rail franchises, parliamentary records show.

The event, which cost £5,470.87, was organised to facilitate discussions about the progress of rail nationalisation under the state-owned Great British Railways (GBR) initiative. The government is in the process of bringing passenger rail franchises back under public control, a policy outlined in Labour’s manifesto and formalised through the Railway Passenger Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024. GBR-branded trains were unveiled earlier this month.

Criticism of the spending came from opposition figures and campaign groups. Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden described the event as an inappropriate use of public money, saying passengers are being urged to tighten their budgets while ministers host “taxpayer-funded buffets” for state-run companies. He also noted that MPs could have used free committee rooms for parliamentary discussions instead of incurring hospitality costs.

Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, questioned the justification for spending public money on canapés and drinks amid ongoing rail service challenges such as delays, cancellations, and fare increases. He argued that government efforts should focus on improving services rather than holding receptions.

The Department for Transport declined to comment on the expenditure. In response to parliamentary questions revealing the cost of the event, Labour MP Keir Mather defended the reception as an opportunity for parliamentarians and staff to engage directly with publicly owned train operators and receive updates on improvements being made. He said the event mirrored similar functions previously hosted by private operators and was a “good use of modest public expenditure.” Mather added that the occasion provided a platform for MPs to discuss issues relevant to their constituents as well as the wider rail industry developments.

The reception reflects ongoing efforts by the government to promote the transition to public ownership of rail services, part of a broader initiative to unify the network under Great British Railways, which aims to increase efficiency and accountability in the sector.