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Fri, 08 May 2026

Fri, 08 May 2026 Major train operator to be renationalised in months

GWR, which runs trains between London and South Wales, will come under government control.
Great Western Railway (GWR) to be renationalised on December 13th. The government has confirmed that GWR will come back under public ownership, with its services run by the new Great British Railways organisation. Passengers will now be prioritized over shareholders, according to the Department for Transport (DfT). GWR's services across the West of England and South Wales will fall under government control. The move has been welcomed by Helen Godwin, mayor for the West of England Combined Authority, who stated that four trains per hour at major stations is a worthy ambition. This marks another instance of rail operators being brought back into public ownership, following similar moves in Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, and Wales.