I confess that I don’t spend much time thinking about who runs the railway.  I just want the service to work.

But for years, regular commuters like me – and many other residents using Aldershot or Farnborough Main – have had to put up with delays, cancellations and high fares, all while millions of pounds disappeared in shareholder profits. Our trains have too often been a byword for frustration.

At the end of May, almost without fanfare, a fresh chapter began: South Western Railway (SWR) services were officially taken back into public control. And, after nearly 30 years of fragmentation under private contracts, we finally have the chance to get our once-treasured rail services back on track.

This change isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about delivery. The new Great British Railways (GBR) will be focused solely on providing a service that works for the public. By integrating track and train, we can finally start to fix the inefficiencies and distorted incentives that have plagued the system for too long. A single organisation will be responsible for everything from timetables to ticketing — a structure built around passengers, not profits.

Crucially, money previously lost in franchise fees and duplication can now be reinvested directly into services. Public ownership is projected to save taxpayers up to £150 million a year — funds that can be spent on cleaner stations, modern trains and better reliability.

Importantly this is more than a change in ownership — it’s a new benchmark for quality. The name Great British Railways will not be granted lightly. Starting with SWR, every operator coming into public ownership will have to earn the right to use that name by meeting tough performance standards on punctuality, fewer cancellations and a far better passenger experience. Until the service improves, you won’t see the sign on the side of the train change. GBR will be a byword for quality — a gold standard that passengers can trust.

I have written to the Managing Director setting out my priorities for the new service, based on the many letters and emails I receive.  These include improved reliability, more frequent services and better value for money, but also access for disabled people, simpler ticketing and coordination with bus operators.  I’d welcome further suggestions  you before I meet him.

Regrettably years of decline can’t be reversed overnight. But this is a vital first step in a long-term plan to restore a railway people can take pride in.

Here, where connectivity is key to local jobs and prosperity, this matters. Whether you’re commuting to London, getting to college in Woking, or travelling to see family along the south coast, the train service should support your life — not disrupt it.

In the end, passengers care less about who owns the trains and more about service quality. But ownership matters because it shapes priorities. Under this Labour Government, the priority is clear: passengers first.