West Midlands Railway public ownership date announced

Rail operators West Midlands Railway (WMR) and sister company London Northwestern Railway (LNWR) will enter back into public ownership on February 1, 2026, the Department for Transport has confirmed. WMR’s initial franchise expiry date was September 20, 2026.

Managing Director Ian McConnell said they were “committed to ensuring a smooth transition” to public ownership. It will follow on from Greater Anglia which is due to re-enter public ownership in October.

WMR has had the franchise since 2017, with its sister company LNWR operating its London services during that time. It has recently introduced the Class 730 train to its LNWR fleet after a delayed introduction on the WMR network last year.

McConnell said he was “extremely proud of what we have achieved under this franchise, delivering a £1billion investment in two new train fleets and delivering significantly improved performance which has transformed rail travel for millions of customers.”

WMR’s renationalisation follows the DfT’s timetable for transfers, which is dependent on the franchise’s earliest contractual expiration date.

A DfT spokesperson said: “Bringing services into public ownership as contracts expire will enable us to join up track and train and deliver the best value for taxpayers in the longer term. We’re already improving services and will save up to £150 million a year in fees — money that will not go back to private shareholders.

“We’re working closely with operators to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for passengers.”