Major UK train operator faces ‘significant’ shake-up within months

Train services between London Paddington, the South West and Wales will be brought into public ownership later this year.

Great Western Railways (GWR) will be renationalised in December as part of the government’s move to bring train services back into public hands after years of privatisation.

It is part of the plan, which will eventually see the creation of the Great British Railways, a new publicly owned company set to improve services currently plagued by delays and cancellations.

Great Western Railways will enter into public ownership on December 13, 2026, the Department for Transport confirmed yesterday.

A spokesperson said: ‘This is another significant moment for the Government’s flagship public ownership program and brings a simpler, more reliable network under Great British Railways a step closer.  

‘The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring services back into public ownership and put passengers, not shareholders, at the heart of our railways.’

The GBR will fully launch next year as part of the ‘shake up’ on train travel, promising to bring more reliable and punctual services and ticket purchases under one app.

London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway were renationalised in February, joining the likes of c2c, South Western Railways and Greater Anglia which were overhauled last year.

What are the next train operations brought into public ownership?

Next up for the move will be Govia Thameslink Railway, one of the biggest operators in the country.

It will be moved into back ownership officially on May 31.

Rail companies under the Great British Railways will have to meet ‘rigorous, bespoke standards’ to be allowed to be part of the new service, the government said.

All train ticket sales will be brought under one app and website, while trains will display the Great British Railways branding.

Despite the focus on clamping down on delays and cancellations, the Transport Secretary has previously said train fares are not expected to go down under public ownership.

The focus will be on improving services and cracking down on delays.

What is the government’s rail nationalisation plan?

In its 2024 manifesto, labor promised to bring railways back into the public sector following years of complaints from passengers plagued by delays and cancellations.

The latest data from the rail watchdog, the Office of Rail and Road, shows that around 81% of trains arrived on time between October and December last year.

While the plan will see the government take over managing rail infrastructure like stations and tracks from Network Rail, trains themselves – one of the most profitable aspects of the railways – will continue to be controlled by Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOS) and leased to the Great British Railways.

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