Govia Thameslink To Be Publically Owned By End Of May

Govia Thameslink Railway is set to be brought into public ownership later this month, ending more than a decade of private operation across Sussex and the wider South East.

The Department for Transport has confirmed the transfer will take place on May 31, with the operator moving into state control from June 1.

GTR currently runs services under four brands: Southern Railway, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express, covering more than 235 stations and accounting for around 17% of UK passenger journeys.

Its Southern network connects key Sussex locations including Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lewes and Eastbourne with London.

Passengers are being told there will be no immediate changes, with services, timetables and ticketing arrangements remaining the same following the transition. Staff will also transfer into the publicly owned operator with no changes to their roles.

The move forms part of the Government’s wider rail reform programme, with all passenger services in England expected to be brought under public ownership by 2027 and integrated into Great British Railways.

GTR has been operated by Govia, a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, since 2014.