West Midlands Trains are set to come into public ownership, the company has said.

The Department for Transport has confirmed the company - which operates under the West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway brands - will be managed by Great British Railways from 1 February 2026.

WMT has said this will not impact services, timetables or stations.

Ian McConnell, managing director of West Midlands Trains, said: "I am extremely proud of what we have achieved under this franchise, delivering a £1 billion investment in two new train fleets and delivering significantly improved performance which has transformed rail travel for millions of customers.

"As we transition to a publicly owned railway, our focus remains on delivering an outstanding service for our passengers."

The nationalisation of services is hoped to bring £150 million in savings while also reducing delays.

Plans were signed off under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 in November.

The government hoped nationalisation of all services in Britain would bring savings of up to £150m while also reducing delays and cancellations.

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