London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway entered public ownership on Sunday, Feb. 1, bringing both sides of the West Midlands Trains business under government control.
The transition marks another step in the government’s plan to create a more integrated rail network under Great British Railways, which is intended to deliver more reliable, safer and more affordable journeys. London Northwestern Railway operates services between Liverpool and Birmingham and along the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston, while West Midlands Railway serves destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.
Together, the services play a central role in the regional economy, linking communities to jobs, education and services across the West Midlands and beyond, from Liverpool to London. Government officials said improved rail connections support housing development, job creation and stronger local economies.
West Midlands Trains becomes the fourth operator to move into public ownership under the government’s Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act. The change coincides with the government’s decision to freeze rail fares, the first such move in three decades.
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