GTR Moves Into Public Ownership As Rail Shake-Up Takes Another Step

GTR services have moved into public ownership from today, 31 May 2026, marking another major step in the Government’s programme to bring DfT-managed train operators under public control.

The transfer means services currently operating as Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express will now be managed by DfT Operator Limited.

DFTO is the Government’s rail owning group and is leading the delivery of the Public Ownership Programme. Its role is to bring DfT-managed, privately owned train operators into public ownership ahead of the planned creation of Great British Railways.

With the addition of GTR, eight in ten passenger rail journeys that Great British Railways is expected to be responsible for are now being delivered by publicly owned operators under DFTO.

The Government says public ownership is intended to place passengers at the centre of the railway. The wider plan is to bring public sector train operators and Network Rail together under Great British Railways, with the aim of improving performance, strengthening the customer experience, reducing subsidy, supporting staff and keeping safety and sustainability as priorities.

The move is part of a wider restructuring of Britain’s railways as the industry prepares for the creation of GBR, which is intended to provide a more joined-up structure for track and train operations.

Image: Great British Railways