London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services are now being operated by DfT Operator Ltd, as the government continues its programme of rail nationalisation ahead of the creation of Great British Railways.
Since Sunday, 1 February 2026, the operation of West Midlands Trains (WMT) has transferred into public ownership, with services now managed by DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO).
Plans for a unified system
The move brings both sides of the WMT business, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway, under public control, marking the latest step in the government’s rail reform agenda and its plans for a unified system under Great British Railways (GBR). That includes most infrastructure and passenger operations being government-owned and managed, while rail freight will remain in the private sector.
DFTO is the government’s public sector owning group, responsible for managing train operators as they move into public ownership ahead of the establishment of GBR. Ministers say the approach will improve performance, reduce subsidies, promote innovation and deliver better outcomes for passengers and taxpayers.
Two WMT brands are now publicly owned
London Northwestern Railway operates services between Liverpool and Birmingham, as well as along the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston. West Midlands Railway serves destinations across the West Midlands, focused on routes via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.
Together, say the government, the services play a central role in connecting people to jobs, education and economic opportunities across the Midlands and beyond. It went on to stress their importance in supporting growth from Liverpool to London, omitting to note that long-distance express services between those two cities are provided by a different operator (Avanti West Coast).
Part of the wider nationalisation programme
West Midlands Trains becomes the fourth operator to enter public ownership under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act, joining Greater Anglia, c2c, Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern, LNER and South Western Railway, all of which are currently managed by DFTO.
According to the government, more than 8,500 publicly owned rail services are now running daily, carrying over 660 million passengers a year. “The thousands of passengers who travel with London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway will be using services that are owned by the public and run with their interests at heart,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. “We’re working hard to reform a fragmented system and deliver a reliable railway that regenerates communities, rebuilds the trust of its passengers and delivers the high standards they rightly expect.”
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) will be the next operator to transfer into public ownership, with services scheduled to move on 31 May 2026. Great British Railways, once established, will be responsible for coordinating the whole rail network, bringing together track and train, cost and revenue, with ministers promising a “relentless focus” on passenger needs and long-term reform of Britain’s railway.