A year after nationalisation, South Western Railway (SWR) is under scrutiny as rail minister Peter Hendy defends the government's approach, citing faster rollout of new trains and improved capacity. However, questions over reliability and punctuality persist.
New Trains and Upgrades
SWR's newest train, wrapped in a Union Jack-inspired Great British Railways livery, has divided opinion on aesthetics. Critics describe the design as 'effortfully deconstructed' and 'more GB News than GBR'. Yet the interior is an upgrade: air-conditioned carriages, more space, and greater passenger capacity. Since nationalisation, 45 of the 90 new Arterio trains have entered service, part of a £1 billion fleet ordered under the previous privatised system.
Minister's Defence
Speaking at London Waterloo, Lord Hendy said the accelerated rollout since May 2025 shows reforms are working. A single managing director now oversees both track and train, incentivised on running a decent service rather than operating to the letter of a contract. Nationalisation, he argued, is 'cutting red tape that held the railway back for decades'. Only six new trains were running when the state took control; now half are in service, with more to come.
Remaining Challenges
Hendy acknowledged ongoing issues: 'There are all sorts of things wrong.' He noted that under the previous operator, 80% of trains at Waterloo ran all day with the same driver and guard; now it is 8%, due to cross-linked staff rosters that caused chaos when things went wrong. SWR managing director Lawrence Bowman has recruited more drivers and revised timetables, but Hendy admits 'it's not there yet'.
Infrastructure and Staffing
Bowman said progress includes major infrastructure upgrades, more staff, better customer information, and a new timetable. 'We have a lot more to do, but we are making steady progress,' he stated. Hendy emphasised that public ownership means attention will be paid to making the railway run better, not just fulfilling contract obligations.
Branding and Future
The GBR livery, designed on the cheap by ministers, has attracted criticism. Hendy defended it: 'It is good design... the unity of the UK is quite an important concept.' He also confirmed that local brands like South Western will persist under the GBR banner, joking about selling the Avanti brand for charity. As SWR approaches its second year under nationalisation, the focus remains on delivering a reliable service for passengers.
