No More Private Profits: Trains Return to Public Hands

West Midlands Railway Transitions to Public Ownership in Major Step for UK's Rail Reform

Birmingham, 1 February 2026 — Commuters and passengers across the West Midlands and beyond woke up today to a significant change on their rail networks: West Midlands Railway (WMR), along with its sister brand London Northwestern Railway (LNR), has officially transferred into public ownership.

The move, effective from Sunday 1 February 2026, sees services previously operated by West Midlands Trains (WMT) brought under the umbrella of the government's Great British Railways (GBR) initiative. WMT becomes the fourth train operator to enter public ownership under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act, following earlier transitions for other companies.

The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed the change, stating that operations are now managed by a new public sector entity, WM Trains Limited, a subsidiary of DfT Operator Limited. This brings eight of the 14 DfT-responsible operators into public hands, with more expected in the coming months and years, including Govia Thameslink Railway by May 2026.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the development as a fulfillment of the government's manifesto pledge to prioritise passengers over private profits. "The thousands of passengers who travel with London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway will be using services that are owned by the public and run with their interests at heart," she said. Alexander emphasised that the shift eliminates up to £150 million in annual management fees paid to private operators, which she described as unjustified, while enabling integrated management of trains, tracks, and signalling to boost punctuality and reliability.

The services cover extensive routes: West Midlands Railway focuses on local and regional travel across the West Midlands, centring on hubs like Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill. London Northwestern Railway connects the region to destinations including Liverpool, Birmingham, and London Euston along the West Coast Main Line.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker welcomed the change, noting past frustrations with unreliable, overcrowded trains and confusing ticketing under private operation. "This is about more than a badge on the side of a train – and I will be working closely with ministers to improve West Midlands Railway services and raise standards," he said.

WMT's managing director, Ian McConnell, expressed optimism about the transition. "Public ownership is an exciting opportunity to build on this success through a strong culture of collaboration and integration with the wider family of publicly owned operators," he stated, highlighting recent investments including over 100 new trains, depot upgrades, five new stations planned for later in 2026, and the rollout of Pay-As-You-Go ticketing at 75 locations.

The government frames the move as part of broader reforms to create a more unified, efficient, and passenger-focused railway under Great British Railways. It coincides with the first rail fare freeze in 30 years, aimed at making travel more affordable and encouraging greater use of the network to support economic growth, job creation, and connectivity from Liverpool to London and across the Midlands.

Passengers have been reassured that the change will not immediately affect timetables, stations, ticket validity, or day-to-day services. The focus remains on smooth continuity while laying the groundwork for long-term improvements in performance and integration.

This latest transfer marks steady progress in the Labour government's plan to bring passenger rail services back into public ownership, with the full programme targeted for completion by the end of 2027. As Great British Railways takes shape, the West Midlands' rail users are among the first in the region to experience the shift from private franchising to state-run operations.