GREAT Western Railways (GWR) will be brought into public ownership this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, confirmed GWR’s contract with DfT will end on December 13. The West of England's mayor Helen Godwin has welcomed the news.

She said: “I’m sure everyone in the West who – like me – catches the train will welcome this news. We need a transport network which works, and putting the trains back under public ownership will put people's needs at the heart of Great British Railways.

“Like the three-quarters of a billion pounds already secured from government for better transport for the West of England, this is a big deal and must make a difference that people can see and feel.

“Alongside our new stations, Bristol Brabazon and Charfield, and passenger trains returning to Portishead and Pill, we deserve four trains an hour at stations across our growing regional rail network.

“We'll continue working with partners to deliver the infrastructure needed to make that ambition a reality.”

Earlier, a spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “This is another significant moment for the Government’s flagship public ownership programme and brings a simpler, more reliable network under Great British Railways a step closer.

“The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring services back into public ownership and put passengers, not shareholders, at the heart of our railways.”

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 became law in November, after being the first major Bill passed following the General Election, enabling Ministers to take back control as operators’ contracts expire.

Five new stations are set to be built over the coming years in the West; they form part of the region’s ambitious wider £400-million rail investment plan, which includes building new stations and adding extra services.