Summary
West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway, both operated by West Midlands Trains, will now be run by the government. They have joined a new publicly-owned body called Great British Railways that will manage the UK's rail network. This move is part of the government's efforts to improve train services and make them more reliable.
Key Facts
- West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services are entering public ownership.
- The move to public ownership is part of the government's Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act.
- Great British Railways will manage both train operations and infrastructure like tracks and signals.
- Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the change as part of a manifesto promise.
- The goal is to make train services more efficient and reliable.
- West Midlands Trains is the fourth operator to move to public ownership.
- The change aims to save management fees previously paid to private companies.
- Business leaders in the West Midlands see strong rail links as vital for economic growth.
