South Western Railway will become the first train operator
in the UK brought back into public ownership as part of the government’s plans
to renationalise the railways. The transition will take place in May and the operator will be joined by C2C in July 2025 and Greater
Anglia next autumn as their respective contracts expire.
The Labour government’s Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership)
Act 2024 received Royal Assent last week, paving the way for it to bring rail
services under public control in what will eventually become known as Great British Railways.
“The transition to a publicly owned railway will improve
reliability and support the government’s number one priority of boosting
economic growth by encouraging more people to use the railway,” said a statement
from the government.
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.”
Railway Industry Association Chief Executive,
Darren Caplan, added: “Today’s announcement is an important milestone on the
journey to a restructured railway. The UK supply chain will work with and
support the government’s plans to deliver improved rail performance and
reliability, as we together develop world-class rail, both track and train.”
UK rail fares are due to increase 4.6 per cent in March, as announced in Labour's recent Budget.
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, said the increase was “deeply concerning”.
“Affordable and reliable rail services are essential for business travellers and directly impact the UK’s economic growth,” he added.
“Passenger experience is at an all time low. Rail travel is a necessity for businesses and individuals, but additional costs must lead to tangible benefits for travellers. The BTA urges the government and the rail industry to use these increases to prioritise investments in service quality, reliability, and capacity improvements.”