Thameslink brought under public ownership from today
Govia Thameslink Railway services operate in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) - Britain's largest train operator which runs services in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire - will come under public ownership from today, as the Government looks to improve services.
Although, Liberal Democrat MP’s in Hertfordshire believe the Government isn’t focusing on the issues which “matter most to passengers”.
Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans said: “My big worry is that the government is focused more on just who owns the railway lines rather than actually just improving services.”
“The major issue with Thameslink services running through St Albans is that there's insufficient capacity and something's got to be done. Basically, we know that the line is set to breach capacity in just five years. I've continued to raise this with the government”, she adds.
The Liberal Democrat also says, “what passengers really want to know is, that they run on time, that they're affordable, they're comfortable and they're reliable”.
Victoria Collins, Lib Dem MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted said: “I really worry this is going to be just an expensive rebrand.
“But ultimately, I really do hope it improves the service that we've been pushing for. So many local residents have issues, whether it's a regular commute, whether it’s that £30 return journey to London, which is ridiculous.
“So, I’m not sure this is a real answer. What we've got as Lib Dems is a short term and long term approach, which we think would really tackle the issues that matter.”
“This isn't just a paint job”
The first train branded under Great British Railways (GBR) was unveiled earlier this month.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said: "The unveiling of the first GBR-branded train makes the future of Britain’s railways a reality.
"It represents all of the work being done by staff up and down the country to fundamentally reform our railway.”
"This isn’t just a paint job – it’s an important step towards building a more joined‑up, publicly owned railway that puts passengers first, delivers better services and leaves the frustrations and fragmentation of the past behind."
Chiltern Railways services are expected to follow into public ownership, with Great Western Railways due to be nationalised in December.
The Government hopes this summer, eight in 10 passenger rail journeys will be owned by the public.
It's expected that GTR train services, timetables and jobs will be unaffected by the move to Great British Railways.
By nationalising train services under GBR, the Government aims to make rail travel "smoother, simpler and easier to navigate, whether travelling for work, weekends away or spur-of-the-moment summer holidays."
'Trains are too expensive'
Some rail commuters we've been speaking to have shared mixed views on the nationalisation of British railways.
"I think it's a good idea; (I'd like to see) less breakdowns," one woman told us.
"Buses are too expensive and trains are too expensive," a man said.
Suzy, who regularly travels between London and Huntingdon on the GTR line, believes "there's always a problem" with train services.
"I don't think it (nationalisation) will make the slightest bit of difference," she said.
Legislation to establish GBR has already been introduced in Parliament since the King's Speech.
"We’re very pleased to be the first train operator to have a Great British Railways-branded train on our network," John Whitehurst, chief operating officer at GTR, said.
"It’s a significant milestone at GTR, which reflects our readiness for change and the improvements we’ve already been delivering for customers.
"Our priorities remain providing safe and reliable services every day, with customers, colleagues and communities at the heart of everything we do."