Fri, 30 Jan 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 West Midlands Railway joins publicly owned network

The transport secretary says thousands of rail passengers will be using public services from Sunday.
From Sunday, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway will be publicly owned and operated by Great British Railways, a new government-owned body that oversees the UK's rail network. This move follows Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's promise to bring privately-owned train operating companies into public ownership, as part of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act. The decision aims to address issues such as delays, cancellations, and overcrowding, which have long been a source of frustration for passengers. Under Great British Railways, management of both day-to-day operations and infrastructure will be integrated, allowing for more efficient services and improved punctuality and reliability. West Midlands Railway's managing director Ian McConnell welcomed the move, saying it will enable the company to drive performance and innovation, while delivering better journeys for passengers.
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