South Western Railways has officially returned to public ownership, as part of the Labour government's initiative to renationalize the UK rail network. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander celebrated the move as a watershed moment for passengers. This transition follows a long history of privatization since the mid-1990s, which has led to frequent service disruptions and high ticket prices. The government's plan aims to save substantial compensation costs paid to private operators and eliminate the fragmentation in rail services, with a complete nationalization expected by 2027 or sooner for poorly performing operators.
"Everyone in the rail industry knows that privatization... didn't, and doesn't, work," Mick Whelan, general secretary of union Aslef said.
"Today is a watershed moment in our work to return the railways to the service of passengers," Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in a statement.
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