The Government has announced the first train services that will be taken back in public ownership under its plans to renationalise the system
South Western Railways’ train services to be the first to come under public control after the landmark rail bill receives Royal Assent
c2c will follow suit with its services expected to transition by July 2025, before Greater Anglia’s in autumn 2025
The transition to a publicly owned railway says the Government, will improve reliability and support the government’s number one priority of boosting economic growth by encouraging more people to use the railway.
It will also clamp down on unacceptable levels of delays, cancellations and waste seen under decades of failing franchise contracts and will save up to £150 million a year in fees alone by ensuring every penny is spent on services rather than private shareholders, all while coming at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
For too long, the British public has had to put up with rail services that simply don’t work. A complex system of private train operators has too often failed its users.
Starting with journeys on South Western Railways, we’re switching tracks by bringing services back under public control to create a reliable rail network that puts customers first.
Our broken railways are finally on the fast track to repairing and rebuilding a system that the British public can trust and be proud of again.
