From 31 May 2026, some of Britain’s busiest rail services, including Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express, have transferred into public ownership as part of the Government’s railway reform scheme.
The services were previously operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Britain’s largest train operator, responsible for around one in six passenger rail journeys nationwide. The transfer places the services under the control of DfT Operator Ltd, a government-owned company that is expected to become part of the planned Great British Railway structure in the coming years.
According to the Department for Transport, passengers should not see immediate changes to timetables, tickets, railcards, or station facilities. Existing services will continue to operate as normal while the new operator introduces plans to improve service reliability and reduce cancellations.
The government has also announced proposals to increase services on some routes, including additional trains to Gatwick Airport.
Supporters of public ownership argue that bringing rail services under government control could create a more joined-up network and allow profits to be reinvested in services. Critics, however, question whether ownership changes alone will solve long-standing issues such as delays, staffing shortages and infrastructure problems.
The move is part of a wider plan to bring more passenger rail operators into public ownership as existing contracts expire. The government says this is intended to lay the foundations for Great British Railways, which would oversee both train operations and rail infrastructure across much of England.
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