UK Renationalises First Train Operator Under Labour Reforms

The renationalisation of South Western Railway, which notably serves London Waterloo station, means a third of journeys in Britain are now on publicly owned services (Credit: AFP)

A private train operator servicing parts of southern England, including London, on Sunday became the first to be returned to public ownership under a government plan to renationalise Britain's much-maligned railways.

All UK rail operators are due to be renationalised within the next two years in a key policy launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following his Labour party's return to government last July after 14 years in opposition.