Rail firm Greater Anglia transfers to public ownership
Greater Anglia has become the first private rail operator to be transferred back into public ownership in the government's renationalization of the UK rail network. The company will now be run by DfT Operator Limited (DFTO) on behalf of the government, joining several other operators that are already publicly owned. The change is being implemented as part of the plans to create Great British Railways (GBR), a more unified network.
The Change to Public Ownership
Greater Anglia, which serves routes from London to Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich, and other locations in the East of England, as well as Stansted Airport, has officially been taken over by the government. This move makes it the country's first private rail operator to be re-nationalized. According to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the goal is to create a "more efficient and accountable railway that prioritizes passengers." She stated that passengers travelling on Greater Anglia will now be using a service that is "run by the public and run with their interests in mind."
Broader Rail Renationalization
The transfer of Greater Anglia is part of a wider government strategy. Half of all rail operators are now publicly owned. Greater Anglia joins a growing list of companies managed by DFTO, including c2c, Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern, LNER, and South Western Railway. The Department for Transport (DfT) has also confirmed future transfers, with West Midlands Trains scheduled for February 1st and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) for May 31st. Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railways are also expected to follow suit.
Greater Anglia's Recent Success
The transfer of Greater Anglia into public ownership follows a period of success for the company. In 2024-25, the operator handled 81.8 million passenger journeys and was named 'Rail Operator of the Year' at the National Transport Awards. The company's managing director, Martin Beable, said the move was an "exciting opportunity" to build on this success. Under the DfT's management, Greater Anglia will continue to support regional growth, with two new stations opening soon: Beaulieu Park in north Chelmsford and Cambridge South. The operator has also invested in a new fleet of bi-mode trains.
