Southern Rail enters public ownership under Great British Railways

Southern Rail has entered public ownership as part of the nationalisation of its parent company Govia Thameslink Railway on May 31. The change means local Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express will become part of Great British Railways, the new public sector body intended to bring tracks and train operations under a single organisation.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the move would allow rail services to be run for the public good rather than private profit. She said bringing Britain’s largest train operator into public ownership would help address issues including service cancellations and improve connections to Gatwick Airport as Great British Railways is established.

The first Southern train carrying Great British Railways branding was unveiled in Brighton last month and trains will be gradually rebranded. Govia Thameslink Railway is the fifth operator to be taken into public ownership by the current government, with Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway also scheduled to follow. The government has said it intends to complete the programme by the end of next year.