Reports indicate that South Western Railway will be the first rail operator to be renationalised by the Labour government, as part of a broader plan to bring rail services back into public ownership. The government passed a law allowing it to reclaim rail contracts, with South Western’s current franchise set to end in May 2025. This move comes in response to criticisms of privatization, particularly concerning fare increases and reliability issues, as Labour aims to fulfill its pledge to renationalise most rail services within five years.