Guidance

Great British Railways and the public ownership programme

Updates on the programme to transfer rail services into public ownership and establish GBR as the body responsible for passenger services and infrastructure.

From:
Department for Transport and DfT Operator Limited
Published
25 May 2025
Last updated
12 October 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Great British Railways is coming soon

Publicly owned Great British Railways (GBR) will be created around 12 months after legislation is passed. It will be the single ‘directing mind’ bringing track and train together, putting passengers and customers first, rebuilding trust in the railway and operating the majority of passenger services under public ownership and control.

GBR will end years of fragmentation and will have a relentless focus on driving up standards for passengers, including simpler fares and ticketing. It will have the independence and tools it needs to deliver improvements to rail services, and plan and run the railway on a long-term basis in the interest of its passenger and freight customers and taxpayers.

Instead of having to navigate 14 separate train operators, passengers will once again simply be able to use ‘the railway’. They will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – all run by a single body focused on their interests. That will mean fewer delays, a better experience, and a timetable that better serves their needs.

Establishing Great British Railways

In February 2025, the government’s consultation on the Railways Bill outlined plans to set up GBR as a new arm’s length body, responsible for rail services and infrastructure.

The Railways Bill is due to go before Parliament this parliamentary session. GBR is expected to be operational around 12 months after the bill receives Royal Assent.

Before the bill becomes law, leaders of Network Rail, DfT Operator Limited (DFTO), and the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Rail Services Group are working together, as Shadow Great British Railways (SGBR). SGBR will start to realise the benefits of rail reform to passengers and freight ahead of the formal creation of GBR.

Public ownership programme  

On 4 December 2024, the government launched the rail public ownership programme and announced the first services to transfer into public ownership.

South Western Railway’s services were the first under new legislation to transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025, followed by c2c’s services on 20 July 2025 and Greater Anglia’s services on 12 October 2025. West Midlands Trains’ services will be next to transfer on 1 February 2026 and then Govia Thameslink Railways’ services will transfer on 31 May 2026.

The Secretary of State for Transport has outlined the intention for Chiltern Railways’ and Great Western Railways’ services to be the next services to transfer. Expiry notices will be issued to confirm the dates of transfer once a final decision has been taken regarding each operator.

The transfer of passenger services operated under contracts with DfT is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Ahead of the establishment of GBR, services will transfer to a new publicly-owned operating company, which will be a subsidiary of DFTO.

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 makes provision for rail passenger services to be provided by public sector operators, instead of by means of franchises. This act enables the government to deliver its manifesto commitment to bring passenger services into public ownership as a first step towards wider rail reform. The legislation applies to England, Scotland and Wales. 

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Updates to this page

Published 25 May 2025
Last updated 12 October 2025 show all updates

  1. Public ownership programme updated.

  2. Public ownership programme updated.

  3. First published.

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