City's trains will be among last to be renationalised

PASSENGERS on the Bristol area's main train company will have to wait at least another two years before it is returned to public ownership, the Post understands.

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The Government announced in September that Great Western Railway, which is owned by First and has a franchise to operate services from Paddington into the West Country and Wales, would be returned to public ownership when that franchise expires.

But while the announcement by transport secretary Heidi Alexander gave specific dates for three rail companies to be taken back into public ownership in the near future, GWR becoming renationalised will take a lot longer.

The Government announced that Greater Anglia's services will transfer back into public hands on October 12, West Midlands Trains will follow on February 1 next year, with Govia Thameslink being taken back on May 31 next year.