Passengers call for cheaper fares as SWR renationalised

SWR passengers in the south of England tell the BBC what they think of the renationalisation of the train company

At 01:59 BST precisely, South Western Railway (SWR) became the first company to transfer to public ownership under the current Labour government.

From autumn, almost all passenger trains and tracks in England, Wales and Scotland will be officially managed by publicly-owned body Great British Railways.

What does it mean for passengers?

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said trains would "be run by the public, for the public".

Some SWR users have been telling BBC South they think the operator's service is "very good" and all they really want is "cheaper fares" - others said renationalisation "makes sense".

Maggie and Mike Smith are regular commuters

Maggie Smith, from Wokingham, said she was not aware of the renationalisation of SWR, saying she was "surprised" because she is a regular commuter.

"I haven't heard any information at all and I haven't been given any information about what the impacts might be," she said.

The service has "always been very good with no major problems and all very easy to deal with", she said, adding: "I would like to see cheaper travel fares."

Her husband, Mike Smith, is also a regular commuter and said while he did not know about the change, he would like to see "the price of tickets go down a bit, that would be good".

He said: "Generally, we find the train service OK, not much needs to change, just the price of travel.

"We've never had any problems at all, it's been very reliable and very good."

Dave Taylor said the current train service "reflects a mess"

Dave Taylor, from Bournemouth, said he doesn't travel by train often but that when he does, the current service was "variable", adding: "Sometimes it's good and other times less so.

"It seems to me to make sense to bring all the railways back under one ownership, it's all fragmented.

"The fun and games you have when you are changing from one line to another."

He said renationalisation "makes sense, to reduce administration and have a coherent view".

"It also means that any money made now goes back into investment rather than the owners of the franchise," he added.

"Cheaper tickets would be nice, it's just crazy the price and, to me, that reflects a mess."

John Major said renationalising the trains would be "dreadful"

John Major, also lives in Bournemouth and told BBC South he remembered when trains were nationalised previously.

"It's a dreadful thing going back to that situation," he said. "British rail were a standing joke and stand-up comedians thoroughly enjoyed British rail."

"South Western Railway have done a pretty reliable service and you can rely on them.

"I doubt very much if we go back to the old days, if it really does go back to how it was, that it won't be good for passengers and it won't be reliable."