A year after being brought under state control, South Western Railway (SWR) is seeing its new fleet of trains enter service at an accelerated pace, though questions about reliability remain. The 45th Arterio model, wrapped in a union jack-inspired Great British Railways (GBR) livery, recently entered service, marking a milestone for the operator that was the first to be renationalised under Labour's planned reforms.
Progress on the Tracks
Rail minister Peter Hendy, speaking at London Waterloo, highlighted that half of the new 90-strong, £1bn fleet is now operational, with a majority expected soon. This follows years of delays under the previous private operator, First Group, which faced union objections and contractual challenges. Since the state took direct control in May 2024, only six of these trains were running; now 45 are in service.
Hendy said nationalisation is "cutting red tape that held the railway back for decades." He noted that the single managing director now responsible for both track and train is incentivised on running a decent service rather than operating to the letter of a contract. Lawrence Bowman, managing director of SWR and Network Rail Wessex, has worked to recruit more drivers and revise rosters, but Hendy admitted there is still much to do.
Challenges Remain
Hendy pointed out that under private ownership, crosslinked staff rosters meant that when things went wrong, trains could be at the platform with the driver at Epsom and the guard at Staines. Now, with public ownership, attention is focused on making the railway run better for passengers. Bowman said work includes major infrastructure upgrades, recruiting more staff, better customer information, and a new timetable.
Despite progress, punctuality has suffered due to failures of tracks, trains, and staffing. Hendy acknowledged that "there remains all sorts of things wrong" but expressed confidence in the direction of travel. He emphasised that nationalised companies must still run as a business, with income from taxpayers and passengers, and that improving reliability will boost revenue.
Livery and Branding
The new GBR livery has divided opinion. One Department for Transport insider described it as "more GB News than GBR," while architecture critic Cath Slessor called it "an explosion in a union jack factory – and not in a good way." Hendy defended the design, saying it uses the right typeface and lettering, and that the unity of the UK is an important concept. He also confirmed that regional brands like South Western will persist under the GBR banner.
When asked about other operators like Avanti, Hendy joked, "We're going to sell it for charities and see whether anybody wants it," referring to it as "the Gerald Ratner of railways."
Looking Ahead
As SWR marks its first year of nationalisation, the focus remains on building a more reliable and resilient railway. With half the new fleet in service and more drivers being recruited, the operator is on the road to recovery, but not there yet. Hendy remains optimistic: "We're going in the right direction."
