Chiltern Railways services moved into public ownership on Sunday 20 September 2026, under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act. Operations are now managed by Chiltern Rail Limited, a new public sector operator and a subsidiary of DfT Operator Limited (DFTO).
This transfer means that 10 of the 14 train operators providing passenger services under contract with the Department for Transport are now publicly owned. DFTO currently runs over 12,000 passenger rail services daily.
Chiltern Rail Limited plans to introduce measures to enhance passenger experience, including more modern trains, increased services, and more comfortable journeys. Public ownership also aims to facilitate the delivery of East West Rail.