Today the Government will start its three-year programme of bringing all of the UK’s passenger train services back under public control.
First to change will be South Western Railways, which will transfer into public ownership next year.
The transition to a publicly-owned railway will improve reliability, says the Government, and will support economic growth by encouraging more people to use the railway.
It’s also claimed that the change will also clamp down on levels of delays, cancellations and waste, and will save up to £150m a year.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “For too long, the British public has had to put up with rail services that simply don’t work. A complex system of private train operators has too often failed its users.
“Starting with journeys on South Western Railways, we’re switching tracks by bringing services back under public control to create a reliable rail network that puts customers first.”
