Government Set to Take Control of West Midlands and London Northwestern Rail Franchises

On 1 February 2026, passenger rail services currently operated by West Midlands Trains will transfer into public control, marking the end of the company’s current operating contract. The change will affect services branded as West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway, which together cover local, regional and inter-urban routes across the West Midlands and key corridors between London Euston and the Midlands and North West. The takeover forms part of a wider government programme to bring train services into public operation as contracts expire.

West Midlands Trains has operated the network since 2017 under a contract awarded by the Department for Transport. Its remit has included suburban commuter routes around Birmingham and the Black Country, alongside longer-distance services connecting London with towns and cities such as Milton Keynes, Northampton and Crewe. Over its tenure, the operator has overseen the introduction of new rolling stock and station upgrades, while also navigating periods of disruption caused by infrastructure work, industrial action and changing travel patterns following the pandemic.

From February, responsibility for running these services will pass to DfT Operator Limited, a government-owned company that already runs several other passenger networks across England. The transfer is enabled by the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, which allows the government to take over rail operations when existing contracts end. Officials argue that public operation provides greater control and stability while longer-term rail reform continues to take shape.

For passengers, the transition is expected to be operationally quiet. Timetables, fares, tickets and branding will initially remain unchanged, and staff are set to transfer to the new operator under existing employment protections. The Department for Transport has said the priority is maintaining service continuity, with no immediate changes planned while the new operator assumes control of day-to-day running.

The takeover will be closely watched as another test case for public operation of passenger rail services in Britain. Supporters argue it offers clearer accountability and closer alignment between operators and government objectives, while critics question whether structural change alone will deliver improved performance. As West Midlands services move into public hands, attention will focus on whether reliability, customer satisfaction and long-term investment show measurable improvement in the years ahead.