One of the UK’s biggest railways has just been nationalised – and more are set to make the shift
On Sunday (25 May 2025), South Western Railway’s services will officially transfer into public ownership.
South Western Railway’s services are the first to transfer to public ownership under the Passenger Railways Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, a landmark piece of legislation which was passed by parliament in November.
The Act is designed to reintroduce public sector control over the delivery of the majority of passenger railway services. This is expected to enhance service quality, streamline operations and provide cost-efficiencies that benefit taxpayers and passengers.
Additionally, supporters argue that reinvesting profits into the system could help modernise infrastructure, upgrade facilities, and maintain safety standards.
From Sunday, the railway’s operations will be run by a new public sector operator – South Western Railway Limited. This will be a subsidiary of the public corporation, DfT Operator Limited (DfTO), which will eventually transfer into Great British Railways (GBR), once established.
C2C’s services will be next to transfer into public ownership on 20 July 2025, the Department for Transport said. This will be followed by Greater Anglia’s services which are set to transfer into public ownership on 12 October 2025.
“Sunday marks a watershed moment in the government’s plan to return the railways to the service of passengers and reform our broken railways, ending 30 years of fragmentation and delivers on our manifesto commitment to bring passenger services back into public control and put passengers firmly at the heart of the railways,” said Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander.
“Public ownership will ensure services are run in the interests of passengers, not shareholders, and is a vital step in enabling the government to bring track and train together.”
However, Alexander warned that public ownership alone is not a silver bullet and will not fix the structural problems hindering the railways currently. That will take time, she said.
“Under this government’s plan to unify track and train under one organisation, GBR will be the single ‘directing mind’ for the railway, putting passengers and customers first, rebuilding trust in the railway and simplifying the industry.”
