South Western Railway (SWR) returned to public ownership on May 25, 2025, the first planned train company nationalisation under Labour’s rail reforms. The government called this a “watershed moment” for British railways, though passengers won’t see immediate changes to their journeys. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander didn’t promise cheaper tickets. “I can’t promise lower fares, but I can promise great value for money and that passengers will get a railway that works for them,” she told reporters. The government hopes to improve service quality and reliability instead. The first nationalised service faced an early challenge. The 5:36 am train from Woking … Continue reading Rail Nationalisation Begins: SWR Goes Public With £150M Savings Plan But No Fare Cuts