South Western Railways — which includes Island Line Trains — will come under public ownership in May 2025, the Department for Transport has confirmed.
The move follows the introduction of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, which was passed into law last week. This legislation enables the government to deliver on Labour’s manifesto promise to renationalise rail services as contracts with private operators either end or reach their break points.
Great British Railways to oversee transition
The renationalisation will be managed by a new arms-length body, Great British Railways (GBR). GBR is set to take over service contracts currently held by private operators, with South Western Railways being among the first.
In addition to managing passenger services, GBR is expected to assume responsibility for rail infrastructure maintenance and improvements, which are currently handled by Network Rail.
Focus on reliability over lower fares
The government’s primary aim for this transition is to improve the reliability of services, with a focus on reducing cancellations and delays.
Whether public ownership will lead to cheaper fares for passengers remains unclear. For now, the emphasis is firmly on operational performance rather than changes to pricing.
Part of a broader strategy
The renationalisation of South Western Railways is part of a larger plan to bring all passenger rail services back under government control. Over the next five years, GBR will gradually take over contracts as private franchises expire.
This marks a significant shift in how the UK’s railways will be managed, with the government seeking to centralise both operational and infrastructural responsibilities under one unified body.
Source: BBC
