UK Rail Enters New Era as South Western Railway Returns to Public Hands

 

The UK's rail landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as South Western Railway returns to public ownership, marking a major milestone in the renationalization of train services.

This comes alongside the death of former British Rail chairman Sir Bob Reid and fresh commitments to green energy and job creation through a nationwide railway apprenticeship drive, as the sector prepares to mark 200 years of modern railway history.

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On May 26, 2025, South Western Railway became the first major operator to be nationalised under new legislation. 

Sir Bob Reid, who led British Rail in the 1990s, died days later. Meanwhile, Network Rail signed a solar energy deal, and the Railway 200 campaign launched with 2,000 apprenticeships for 2025.