South Western Railway has officially returned to public hands, marking a pivotal moment in UK rail reform. The move follows the Labour government’s introduction of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024.
At exactly 05:36, the first public-owned train journey from Woking to Surbiton departed on schedule. This milestone begins the broader effort to bring rail services under public control.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander visited Bournemouth’s SWR depot to unveil the transition. She called the move a “real watershed moment” for the UK’s transport system.
During her visit, she addressed questions on fare cuts. She explained the government could not yet promise cheaper tickets. However, she emphasised better service and infrastructure reinvestment.
SWR now operates under the Department for Transport’s direct control. It is set to become part of the new national body, Great British Railways. Although GBR will oversee all rail operations, its legal creation awaits a parliamentary vote expected in autumn.
The newly nationalised trains feature branding for Great British Railways. Painted royal blue with white text, the design reads “Great British Railways coming soon.”
The government sees this as the start of a “new dawn for rail.” Still, it avoided concrete pledges on fare reductions. Instead, it focused on long-term improvements funded by reinvested profits.
Unions cautiously welcomed the shift. The RMT union supported public ownership but raised concerns about outsourced staff. Eddie Dempsey, RMT’s general secretary, stated that renationalisation must benefit all workers.
Opposition voices, especially from the Conservative Party, responded with criticism. Shadow Transport Secretary Gareth Bacon challenged Labour to meet its promises. He warned of higher taxpayer costs if expectations fall short.
Labour plans to nationalise two more rail firms C2C and Greater Anglia later this year. Seven additional operators will follow by 2027. These include West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, and CrossCountry.
The government aims to return nearly all passenger rail services across Britain to public control by 2030. Officials say they are studying ways to lower travel costs. However, real change depends on the formal establishment of GBR.
Public ownership of railways is no longer theoretical. It has now become government policy, marking a major transport policy shift.
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