The government has confirmed the next three train operating companies whose services will transfer into public ownership as part of a landmark overhaul of Britain’s railways. The move is a significant step in the government’s plan to create a unified, publicly owned system.
Following the transfer of Greater Anglia’s services on October 12, 2025, the services of West Midlands Trains will follow on February 1, 2026. Govia Thameslink Railway’s services will then transfer on May 31, 2026.
This schedule means that by the middle of next year, 8 in 10 passenger rail journeys under the department’s responsibility will be owned by the public, for the public.
Path to Great British Railways
The transfer process is designed to return all contracted passenger services to public ownership by the end of 2027. This is being managed as contracts reach the end of their minimum term, ensuring that taxpayers pay no additional costs for breaking contracts early.
The publicly owned services will eventually be integrated into Great British Railways (GBR), the new public company set to take over the day-to-day operations of the network. Legislation to establish GBR will be introduced during the current Parliamentary session.
The government maintains that operators must meet “rigorous, bespoke standards” to earn the right to be called Great British Railways, with the goal of rebuilding a world-class public service.
Further transfers are expected, with Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railways services anticipated to follow. The Secretary of State of Transport is due to make final decisions on the exact timings for these transfers in due course.
Demonstrating Public Ownership Benefits
The government highlighted recent successes from services that have already transitioned to public ownership as evidence of the benefits of the new model:
- Southeastern and LNER are currently delivering some of the lowest cancellation rates nationally.
- South Western Railway has tripled the number of new trains in service in the four months since it came under public ownership, offering more comfortable journeys.
