Great Western Railways (GWR) will be brought into public ownership this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced today.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, has confirmed GWR’s contract with DfT will end on 13 December. The West of England’s Mayor has welcomed the news.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“I’m sure everyone in the West who – like me – catches the train will welcome this news.
“We need a transport network which works, and putting the trains back under public ownership will put people’s needs at the heart of Great British Railways. Like the three-quarters of a billion pounds already secured from government for better transportfor the West of England, this is a big deal and must make a difference that people can see and feel.
“Alongside our new stations, Bristol Brabazon and Charfield, and passenger trains returning to Portishead and Pill, we deserve four trains an hour at stations across our growing regional rail network. We’ll continue working with partners to deliver the infrastructureneeded to make that ambition a reality.”
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Department for Transport said:
“This is another significant moment for the Government’s flagship public ownership programme and brings a simpler, more reliable network under Great British Railways a step closer.
“The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring services back into public ownership and put passengers, not shareholders, at the heart of our railways.”
The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 became law in November, after being the first major Bill passed following the General Election, enabling Ministers to take back control as operators’ contracts expire.
Five new stations are set to be built over the coming years in the West: Bristol Brabazon, Charfield, Henbury, Pill and Portishead. Bristol Brabazon will open in Autumn 2026, Charfield will open in Spring 2027, Pill and Portishead will open in Winter 2028/29,while work continues on plans for Henbury.
These add to the two new stations opened in recent years (Portway Park & Ride and Ashley Down). They form part of the region’s ambitious wider £400 million rail investment plan, which includes building new stations and adding extra services, and the longer-term Transport Vision published in February which also includes plans for better buses, mass transit, active travel, and improved roads.
