Overview

• South Western Railway becomes the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government as part of the Passenger Railways Service Act 2024.
• The transition to public ownership begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, but initial services will be disrupted by engineering works near Raynes Park.
• Passengers on the first scheduled service will need to transfer to a rail replacement bus, highlighting the operational challenges of the renationalisation process.
• Trains will not carry the Great British Railways branding until operators meet strict performance standards on punctuality, cancellations, and passenger experience.
• Labour's broader plan aims to integrate infrastructure and passenger services under Great British Railways by 2027, addressing decades of fragmentation and inefficiency.