Greater Anglia Public Ownership: UK Rail Reform & Future Growth

Introduction

Greater Anglia transferred to public ownership on Sunday, 12 October 2025, becoming the third train operator to do so under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act. This move means that almost 50% of all rail journeys will now be operated by publicly owned companies.

Transition to Public Ownership

From Sunday, 12 October 2025, Greater Anglia transferred to public ownership. This transition is part of the Government’s rail reform plan and supports the Plan for Change, which aims to simplify rail operations, improve reliability and accountability, and create a network with passengers at its heart.

Greater Anglia will continue to operate its regional and intercity services, connecting passengers across East Anglia and into London. The operator will now work more closely with other publicly owned operators to share best practice, drive innovation, and strengthen regional connectivity.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that passengers commuting into Norwich or heading for a day out in Cambridge will be traveling on publicly owned services.

Impact and Infrastructure

Under government ownership, Greater Anglia will continue to support growth across the region. Two new stations — Beaulieu Park, opening this month, and Cambridge South, due early next year — will provide direct rail links to thousands of new homes, schools, and employment areas.

The company’s modern bi-mode train fleet has already transformed services across the Anglia network, offering greater capacity, improved accessibility, and enhanced reliability. Between April 2024 and March 2025, 93.9% of Greater Anglia’s trains arrived within three minutes, making it one of the UK’s most punctual operators.

Operational and Leadership Changes

Ahead of GBR’s formal establishment, integrated leadership teams are being created across publicly owned operators and Network Rail routes to strengthen local collaboration.

For the Anglia region, Jamie Burles has been appointed Integrated Managing Director (Designate), responsible for coordinating activity between Network Rail Anglia, c2c, and Greater Anglia. He will identify opportunities for closer track-and-train cooperation and lead a unified executive team for the Eastern region.

Regional Economic Benefits

Local business leaders have welcomed the transition, highlighting its potential to improve regional connectivity and stimulate economic growth.

Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, stated that the Government’s Plan for Change will help deliver high-quality services, facilitate the sharing of expertise across the network, and will boost growth and provide opportunity for our Norfolk communities.

Stefan Gurney, Executive Director of Norwich BID, added that Greater Anglia’s return to public ownership is a boost for Norwich’s connectivity and growth.

Future Transitions and Performance Improvements

Greater Anglia joins c2c, Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern, LNER, and South Western Railway, all of which are currently operated by DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO).

West Midlands Trains will transfer to public ownership on 1 February 2026, followed by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) on 31 May 2026. By mid-2026, eight in ten passenger journeys overseen by the Department for Transport will be on publicly owned services.

Further transitions, including Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway, will follow in due course, as final decisions are made by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Passengers are already seeing the benefits: Southeastern and LNER now rank among the top five operators for lowest cancellation rates, while TransPennine Express has improved its performance by 34%. South Western Railway has tripled its new trains in service and introduced ticket acceptance across public operators during disruption, at no extra cost.

Conclusion

Greater Anglia’s transition to public ownership, effective 12 October 2025, is part of a broader government initiative to reform the UK’s rail network. This move aims to improve service reliability, accountability, and passenger experience. Additional operators are scheduled to transition to public ownership, with further announcements to follow.

Company Summary

Greater Anglia: Operates regional and intercity rail services across East Anglia and into London.

Great British Railways (GBR): Aims to create a unified rail network.

Network Rail Anglia: Part of the Network Rail infrastructure.

c2c: A train operating company.

Northern: A train operating company.

TransPennine Express: A train operating company.

Southeastern: A train operating company.

LNER: A train operating company.

South Western Railway: A train operating company.

West Midlands Trains: A train operating company.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR): A train operating company.

Chiltern Railways: A train operating company.

Great Western Railway: A train operating company.

DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO): The current operator for c2c, Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern, LNER, and South Western Railway.