Eversheds Sutherland Supports Department for Transport on Govia Thameslink Railway Nationalisation

International law firm Eversheds Sutherland has advised the Department for Transport (DfT) and DfT Operator Limited (DfTO) on the transfer of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) into public ownership, marking another major milestone in the Government's programme of rail reform.

The transition was completed in the early hours of 31 May 2026, with responsibility for operating Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services formally moving into public control.

As the largest rail operation to enter public ownership so far, GTR accounts for around one in every six passenger rail journeys made in Great Britain, making the transfer one of the most significant undertaken under the Government's Public Ownership Programme.

Eversheds Sutherland provided legal support throughout the process, advising on a range of issues including commercial arrangements, rail operations, property matters and data protection requirements.

The firm's multidisciplinary team was led by commercial partner William Spickett and included specialists from its transport, real estate and regulatory practices.

Spickett said the complexity of transferring a major rail operator requires extensive coordination across multiple stakeholders to ensure services continue to operate seamlessly for passengers while ownership arrangements change behind the scenes.

He described the transfer as another important stage in the Government's plans to reshape the railway and praised the collaborative effort involved in delivering the transition successfully.

The move represents the fifth rail operator to be brought under public ownership as part of the Government's wider programme to create Great British Railways (GBR), which is expected to assume responsibility for all passenger rail services across England by the end of 2027.

GTR operates some of the busiest commuter and regional rail routes in the country, serving London, the South East and parts of the East of England. The network plays a critical role in connecting passengers to employment centres, airports and key transport hubs.

The latest transfer follows a series of similar transactions on which Eversheds Sutherland has advised the Department for Transport and DfT Operator Limited, including the recent transition of Greater Anglia services into public ownership.

As the Government continues its programme of railway reform, further operator transfers are expected over the coming months as preparations continue for the creation of a unified national rail organisation under Great British Railways.