From Sunday 1 February 2026, passenger services run by West Midlands Trains-under the London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway brands-transfer to public ownership. Operations will be undertaken by WM Trains Limited, a subsidiary of DfT Operator Limited (DFTO). From this date, eight of the 14 train operators managed by the Department for Transport will be publicly owned. (gov.uk)
The change was confirmed in a written statement to the House of Lords on 30 January 2026 by rail minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill. The operator has told customers that the transition will not affect timetables, stations or ticket validity. (gov.uk)
Ministers have set out the next steps in the programme. Govia Thameslink Railway is scheduled to transfer on 31 May 2026, with the Department for Transport intending that Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway will follow; expiry notices will confirm their dates once decisions are finalised. (gov.uk)
These transfers are enabled by the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, which received Royal Assent on 28 November 2024. The Act amends the Railways Act 1993 to prohibit new franchises and allows passenger services to be provided by public sector companies as existing contracts end. (legislation.gov.uk)
A separate Railways Bill before Parliament would establish Great British Railways as a publicly owned body responsible for day‑to‑day operations, timetabling, access to the network and infrastructure. Department for Transport factsheets confirm a single national retail channel, with a GBR website and app replacing multiple operator sites. (gov.uk)
The Bill also proposes a stronger passenger voice through a watchdog grown from Transport Focus, with powers to set and monitor minimum standards, require information from operators and provide independent dispute resolution via the Rail Ombudsman. (gov.uk)
Ahead of GBR’s creation, DfT reports that leadership is being integrated between DFTO‑run operators and Network Rail routes in defined regional areas to improve performance for passengers and freight. (gov.uk)
Regulated rail fares in England will be frozen for a year from March 2026-the first such freeze in 30 years-covering more than a billion journeys. Government analysis estimates savings of around £600 million for existing passengers in 2026–27, with typical examples published for commuter routes. (gov.uk)
For the West Midlands, services include local corridors through Birmingham and inter‑urban links between Liverpool, the West Midlands and London Euston. The operator states that services, stations and ticket terms remain unchanged at the point of transfer. (westmidlandsrailway.co.uk)
Devolution sits within the reform package. DfT factsheets outline a statutory role for devolved governments and England’s mayors in GBR decision‑making, plus a new ‘rail right to request’ process allowing mayoral authorities to seek further powers over local rail, stations or infrastructure. (gov.uk)
Immediate milestones are clear: WM Trains Limited assumes operations on 1 February 2026; Govia Thameslink Railway follows on 31 May 2026; and dates for Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway will be confirmed by expiry notices. The next phase depends on the Railways Bill completing its passage and the rollout of GBR’s retail and passenger‑standards functions. (gov.uk)