'New start' for UK's railways

DECADES of “waste and bureaucracy” are being ended on Britain’s railways, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander declared, as a renationalisation programme begins.

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Services previously run by South Western Railway (SWR) are the first to be brought under public control by the Labour Government on Sunday.

They are 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.

The next operator's services to be brought under public control will be c2c which runs between London and Essex on July 20, with Greater Anglia being renationalised in October.