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Heidi AlexanderLabour PartyTransport & economy

Complete rail public ownership by end of 2027

“Great Western Railway’s services will be the next to transfer into public ownership on 13 December 2026, followed by Avanti West Coast’s services on 7 March 2027, and the rail public ownership programme remains on track to be completed by the end of 2027.”

DeliveringWritten ministerial statement, 13 Oct 2026
  5. Delivering

Where it stands

Chiltern Railways' services moved into public ownership on 20 September 2026, so 10 of the 14 train operators running passenger services under contract with the Department for Transport are now publicly owned. The Transport Secretary says Great Western Railway's services transfer next, on 13 December 2026, followed by Avanti West Coast's on 7 March 2027, and that the programme "remains on track" to be completed by the end of 2027. The statement gives no dates for the other operators. The card moves as each operator transfers.

What has happened

  1. Oct 2026The Transport Secretary says the rail public ownership programme remains on track to be completed by the end of 2027, Promised
  2. Oct 2026The Transport Secretary confirms Chiltern Railways' services moved into public ownership on 20 September 2026, taking the operators in public ownership to 10 of 14, Delivering evidence
  3. Dec 2027Rail public ownership programme due to be completed by the end of 2027, Deadline

About the cost

No cost has been published.

More detail

Sources (1)
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