London Northwestern Trains Renationalised

“Our trains are back where they belong” says local MP Alex Mayer. She was at Leighton Buzzard station (today Sunday 1 February) as trains returned to public hands this weekend.

London Northwestern becomes the latest rail operator to enter into public hands. It’s part of the Government’s renationalisation of the network.

With one organisation responsible for both the trains and the track for the first time in 30 years, the move is part of a plan to improve reliability and accountability for passengers.

Ms Mayer continued:

“From today, passengers travelling to and from Leighton Buzzard will be using trains run in the interests of passengers, not private profits.

“Bringing track and train back together gives the railway a single, clear sense of direction. Less fragmentation means quicker decisions, clearer accountability, and so a system that works better for passengers. That’s the promise of Great British Railways.”

The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said: “Passengers travelling from Leighton Buzzard Station with London Northwestern will be using services that are owned by the public and run with their interests at heart. This Labour Government is reforming a broken system to deliver a reliable railway that regenerates communities, rebuilds the trust of its passengers, and delivers the high standards people in Bedfordshire and beyond rightly expect.”

By the end of 2027, all passenger services are set to be returned to public ownership, fulfilling a Labour manifesto commitment.

Ian McConnell, managing director of London Northwestern Railway, added:

“Public ownership is an exciting opportunity to improve the rail service for our customers at Leighton Buzzard and across the network through collaboration and integration with other publicly-owned operators. Together, we can drive performance by sharing best practice, accelerating innovation and continuing to deliver even better journeys.

“We are now a step further on the journey to Great British Railways – a railway we can be proud of and one that benefits the passengers and communities we serve.”

New laws to formally establish Great British Railways bringing together 17 different organisations, are going through Parliament.

The Government has also pledged to launch a new passenger watchdog. Plus there are plans to make ticket pricing simpler and less confusing.

Services run south from Leighton Buzzard to Euston and north to Milton Keynes and Birmingham.

For passengers who use Luton and Leagrave stations, Govia Thameslink Railway will follow into public ownership on 31 May.