Biggest rail operator nationalised: What it means

Govia Thameslink Railway will enter public ownership on Sunday under Department for Transport control from 02:00 BST. The operator runs Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express services, carrying millions of passengers and accounting for one in six rail journeys. Great British Railways is planned to operate all passenger services by the end of 2027. Temporary weekday service cuts of 2% are planned between 18 July and 29 August, with passenger numbers up to 20% lower during school summer holidays, including routes between Luton and Rainham via Greenwich. More services are planned from July to September, including East Grinstead connections to the Bluebell Railway and additional early-morning Gatwick flights. From December, Gatwick Express will have twice as many services per hour, and Great Northern will add services from Moorgate to Hertford North. Delay Repay compensation remains available for delays of 15 minutes or more. Most trains will keep existing liveries initially, with repainting planned as services come under Great British Railways. Other operators will also be managed by DFTO, while open-access firms like Lumo will continue running services.

"Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services, will come under Department for Transport (DfT) control from 02:00 BST. GTR is responsible for transporting millions of people, accounting for one in six passenger rail journeys. Great British Railways (GBR) will eventually operate all passenger services by the end of 2027. There will be temporary cuts to 2% of services on weekdays between 18 July and 29 August."

"During the school summer holidays passenger numbers are up to 20% lower, including on routes between Luton and Rainham via Greenwich. There will be more services between July and September, including to East Grinstead connecting with the Bluebell Railway and early-morning Gatwick flights. From December, the DfT says there will be twice as many Gatwick Express services every hour. There will also be additional Great Northern services from Moorgate to Hertford North."

"If you're delayed by 15 minutes or more, you can still claim compensation using Delay Repay. Although the first new-look Southern train - painted red, white and blue - was unveiled at Brighton station by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander last week, most trains will remain the same. Eventually, the government intends to change the livery on all services as they come under GBR control."

"GTR joins West Midlands Trains, Greater Anglia, c2c, South Western, Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern and LNER in being managed by Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO). Chiltern Railways will follow on 20 September, and Great Western Railways on 13 December. Although almost all passenger train operators will be, some private open-access firms, such as Lumo, will continue to run services."

Read at www.bbc.com