As of June 1, former Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services now run by a publicly owner operator.
A new public sector operator, Thameslink Southern Great Northern Limited (TSGNL), has taken charge of train services previously run by Govia Thameslink Railway – including Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.
Photo by Sam / Unsplash
It’s the private fifth company to transfer its services to public ownership under the terms contained in the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024.
TSGNL is now committed to a range of measures to improve performance and customer experience on train services. These include, from December 2026, doubling the number of Gatwick Express trains each hour between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria from December. There will also be more early morning services on Saturdays and Mondays over the summer.
Also from December, TSGNL will provide additional off-peak Great Northern services from Moorgate.
To help reduce the number of cancellations, the company will recruit an additional 75 drivers for Thameslink and Great Northern services this year. Where disruptions occur, passengers will also be able to reach support staff via WhatsApp.
Deep cleaning and repairs will be carried out on all 115 Class 700 units on Thameslink, with toilets refreshed and resurfaced to help combat graffiti. A total of 110 Travel Safe Officers will be provided on Thameslink services, and an automated train operation training programme will be completed by the end of the year.
TSGNL is a subsidiary of public corporation Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO).
Of the 14 train operators delivering passenger services under contract with the DfT, nine are now in public ownership. Chiltern Railways’ services are due to transfer on September 20, and Great Western Railways’ services on December 13, with all rail services transferred to public ownership by the end of 2027.
Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, says: ‘Public ownership is already putting passengers back at the heart of the railway, but it is not in itself a guarantee of improved services. To truly fix the structural issues that have long plagued our railways, we need systemic reform.
‘The Railways Bill continues its passage through Parliament and will establish Great British Railways (GBR), a new nationalised rail company, that will integrate the management of track and trains for passengers and freight use every day. It will also create a strengthened passenger watchdog.
‘Once established, GBR will maintain and improve the railways and be accountable to passengers, freight customers and taxpayers. GBR will be empowered to build a railway that not only puts passengers and customers first but also supports the government’s missions to drive economic growth and opportunity, by improving connectivity and unlocking jobs and housing.
‘The government is already making improvements for passengers, with the first regulated rail fares freeze in 30 years as well as rolling out Pay As You Go more widely. Economic growth is a key priority for the government. Reforming our railways is central to achieving this. Improved performance will bring more people back to rail – generating greater revenue and reducing costs.’
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