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The West Midlands Trains National Rail Contract held by Transport UK Group will come to an end at 02.00 on Sunday morning, when the individual brands of West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern will be taken over by the state.

The change will be the latest in a series of renationalisations which began with LNER in 2018 to replace the failed Virgin Trains East Coast franchise, and which has gathered pace since 2024 when the present government was elected with a mandate to end privatised railway contracts in England and create Great British Railways as the ‘directing mind’.

However, transport campaigners are warning that renationalisation must be supported by greater railway investment.

For the time being, renationalised operators are being run by DfT Operator until the Railways Bill has been passed and Great British Railways can take control.

The West Midlands Train changeover on Sunday will be the fourth since the 2024 election, and will bring the total number of nationalised operators to eight in England, plus two in Scotland and one in Wales.

The next change is set for 31 May, when Govia Thameslink Railway and its brands of Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink will pass into public ownership.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘From this Sunday, 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.

‘We’re working hard to reform a fragmented system and deliver a reliable railway that regenerates communities, rebuilds the trust of its passengers, and delivers the high standards they rightly expect.’

Ben Plowden of the Campaign for Better Transport said: ‘This is an exciting moment. The integration of track and train can help create the conditions to deliver the accessible, affordable and reliable railway people want to see. With Great British Railways headquartered in Derby, the Midlands will sit at the heart of the future railway. Across the region we are already seeing what progress can look like: five stations reopened on the Camp Hill line, major investment through the Midlands Rail Hub to unlock capacity and better connections, and the continued expansion of the West Midlands Metro, helping rail integrate more effectively with trams, buses and active travel.

‘However, passengers are clear that rail reform must lead to fewer delays and cancellations, fairer fares, and a network that is easier to use for everyone, including disabled people, families and older passengers. Combining public ownership with sustained investment and network expansion is essential to help grow rail travel, connect more communities, and ensure the railway truly works for everyone, everywhere.’

Readers’ comments

It will be three stations opened on the camp hill line later this year and not five as mentioned by Ben Plowden. They are Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple road on the camp hill line. Darlaston and Willenhall are also due to open between Bescot Stadium and Wolverhampton.

Dave Cresswell, Walsall

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