West Midlands Trains is set to be transferred into public ownership from February next year, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed.

The operator, which runs services under the West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway brands, will come under government control on 1 February 2026 as part of the DfT’s Public Ownership Programme.

In a statement on Monday, the company said the change would not affect train services, timetables or stations. Ticket validities and conditions of carriage will also remain the same during the transition.

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 West Midlands Trains franchise began in 2017 and since then has introduced more than 100 new trains onto the network, which stretches from Liverpool to London via the West Midlands.

The operator was also responsible for managing public transport during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, delivering millions of journeys throughout the event.

West Midlands Railway runs services across the region through Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill. London Northwestern Railway operates long-distance routes between Liverpool, Birmingham and London Euston.

The move follows a wider trend in the UK rail industry, with several other franchises having already returned to public control in recent years.