Train operators Greater Anglia and West Midlands’ core contract terms expire on Sunday, potentially putting the services on course to be the first ones nationalised by the Labour government.
The ending of the core term of their contracts means Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has the power to terminate their deal with 12 weeks’ notice.
She is not expected to act until the government’s nationalisation legislation completes its passage through Parliament.
But she said she would be “wasting no time” in bringing services back under public ownership.
These are the first two operators to reach the end of their core terms since Labour came to power in July.
The operators’ full contracts are not due to expire until September 2026.
Sounds like the Transport Secretary is up for the fight! I look forward to seeing how this goes.