UK rail nationalisation shows mixed results, government says
16 reported
The majority of Great Britain’s major rail operators are now in public ownership, as the Labour government continues its efforts to make the railways “more reliable, affordable and accessible,” according to a report from The Guardian. The nationalisation of Govia Thameslink on 31 May represents the eleventh major passenger service to be brought back into public ownership, leaving five to go before the government’s deadline of completing every operator by 2027. The rollout, which is resulting in an operator being nationalised roughly every three months, is gradually bringing an end to a privatised system that critics argue has been overly fragmented and focused on profit. Several operators were already under public ownership by the time Labour were elected in 2024, having been nationalised by the Conservatives over financial woes and poor performance. Under the current transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, the Department for Transport (DfT) has accelerated the pace of nationalisation, bringing five operators on to the public books since May 2025. The nationalisations come ahead of the establishment of a new state-controlled company called Great British Railways, expected this year, which will manage rail infrastructure and services. The data available on nationalised operators so far offers a mixed picture on performance, with several experiencing improving train punctuality and a reduction in cancellations but the performance of others has worsened over the past year.
What’s reported
The majority of Great Britain’s major rail operators are now in public ownership.
Govia Thameslink was nationalised on 31 May, the eleventh major passenger service brought into public ownership.
Five operators remain before the government’s deadline of completing every operator by 2027.
Operators are being nationalised roughly every three months.
Several operators were already under public ownership by the time Labour were elected in 2024, nationalised by the Conservatives.
Transport for Wales and ScotRail were nationalised by devolved governments in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Since May 2025, five operators have been brought onto public books: South Western Railway, C2C, Greater Anglia, West Midlands Trains and Govia Thameslink.
A new state-controlled company called Great British Railways is expected this year.
Great Britain’s trains will remain privately owned.
Data on nationalised operators shows a mixed picture: some have improved punctuality and reduced cancellations, while others have worsened over the past year.
LNER has been described by rail minister Peter Hendy as a “blueprint” for wider renationalisation efforts.
The final operator to expire will be CrossCountry in October 2027.
Chiltern Railways is due next, in September 2026.
Last year was the worst year for cancellations nationally since 2015, according to the Office of Rail and Road.
Rail fares have become less affordable since privatisation, rising faster than average earnings.
A 50km journey costs about £8.90 today, compared to £7.54 in 1994 when adjusted for inflation.
Key figures
Heidi Alexander, transport secretary
Stephen Glaister, emeritus professor of transport and infrastructure at Imperial College London and former chair of the Office of Rail and Road
Peter Hendy, rail minister
Marcus Mayers, managing director of the Rail and Station Innovation Company
Keir Starmer, prime minister
Patrick McLoughlin, transport secretary under David Cameron
A DfT spokesperson (unnamed)
Sources: The Guardian
