Hounslow Labour fully supports the recent Government announcement that South Western Railway’s services will be the first to transfer into public ownership next year. This announcement follows on from a Labour Group motion that was recently passed in November’s meeting of Hounslow Borough Council which pushed for an improved service on the South Western railway for Hounslow residents.

The motion – proposed by Cllr Tony Louki, Labour Ward Councillor for Osterley and Spring Grove, and seconded by Cllr Marina Sharma, Labour Ward Councillor for Brentford East – noted that the current service on the Hounslow Loop operated by South Western Railway does not currently meet the standards required, with services being cancelled at short notice and a reduction in services particularly over the weekend where only two trains operate per hour.

The motion resolved to work with our partners to push South Western Railway to improve the services across and beyond the Hounslow Loop for the borough’s residents who use it everyday, and welcomed the Labour Government’s serious consideration of South Western Railway to be the first commuter services in London to be brought under its direct control. This is in line with the Government’s commitment to establish ‘Great British Railways’, a state-owned railway company that is to oversee passenger rail transport in Great Britain. Its aim is to ensure high quality services across all railway services so that commuters are treated fairly.

The Government has now announced that South Western Railways services will be the first to transfer into public ownership next year. The transition to a publicly owned railway will improve reliability and support the government’s number one priority of boosting economic growth by encouraging more people to use the railway. It will also clamp down on unacceptable levels of delays, cancellations and waste seen under decades of failing franchise contracts and will save up to £150 million a year in fees alone by ensuring every penny is spent on services rather than private shareholders, all while coming at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, Cllr Katherine Dunne said:

“I fully supported the Labour Group’s motion at November’s Borough Council which aimed to tackle the poor service on the South Western Railway operated Hounslow Loop line, and I am extremely pleased to hear our Labour Government have listened to concerns from our residents and taken the decision to make South Western Railway the first railway company to transfer into public ownership next year. This is an important first step in putting the thousands of Hounslow residents who use South Western Railway in the borough first, and turning the page on years of neglect.

“Hounslow Council looks forward to continuing to work with the Government and our partners on a smooth transition, and to ensure these vital services are improved for everyone in the borough.”