New era for railways is underway

THE Government's renationalisation of rail services has started as trains operated by South Western Railway (SWR) are taken into public control.

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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who travelled on the first renationalised departure from London Waterloo yesterday, said it was "a new dawn for our railways".

SWR was previously owned by First-Group and MTR Corporation, but is now the responsibility of DfT (Department for Transport) Operator.

All other services run by private companies will be renationalised as contracts reach the end of their minimum terms.