By Stephen Slominski

South Western Railway (SWR), the operator running the main commuter service from Southampton to Waterloo, is set to become the first to return to public ownership.

Photo:CA850 (with cropping and exposure alterations by XAM2175), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the move following the landmark Bill’s recent Royal Assent, marking the start of a major overhaul of Britain’s railways. The transition, planned for next year, is part of broader reforms aimed at improving reliability, reducing delays, and prioritising passengers.

Alexander described the current privatised system as “broken,” stating, “For too long, the British public have had to put up with rail services which simply don’t work. Starting with journeys on South Western Railway, we’re switching tracks by bringing services back under public control to create a reliable rail network that puts customers first.”

The renationalisation process will continue with c2c services by July 2025 and Greater Anglia later that year, aligning with the government’s manifesto pledge to bring rail services into public ownership as contracts with private operators expire.

The Department for Transport (DfT) estimates savings of up to £150 million annually by eliminating fees paid to private shareholders. Publicly managed services will be run by DfT Operator Limited, formerly known as DfT Operator of Last Resort Holdings Limited. This entity will eventually merge into the planned Great British Railways (GBR) body, which aims to unify track and train operations under a single organisation.

The Railway Industry Association welcomed the announcement, with Chief Executive Darren Caplan calling it “an important milestone on the journey to a restructured railway,” adding that it provides “an opportunity to boost growth and connectivity across the UK.”

The DfT has assured passengers that the transition will be smooth, with existing ticketing systems and staffing unaffected. Further reforms include improving transparency on rail performance and addressing overcrowding at key stations.

SWR’s transfer marks a significant shift after 30 years of railway privatisation. The government’s reforms aim to rebuild public trust in the network and encourage greater rail use, supporting economic growth and sustainability.

This story originally appeared in Eastleigh News