A train operator which serves Hampshire and runs Southampton Central station is set to be the first to be nationalised by the Labour government this weekend.

South Western Railway will transfer into public ownership on Sunday and is the first to do so as part of the Passenger Railways Service (Public Ownership) Act 2024.

The Act, which was passed in November, will eventually bring all 14 national operators under public control when existing contracts expire.

South Western Railway will eventually fall under the jurisdiction of Great British Railways (GBR) as operators, Network Rail and DfTO will be consolidated into one public organisation.

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Heidi Alexander, secretary of state for transport, said: "Under this government’s plan to unify track and train under one organisation, GBR will be the single ‘directing mind’ for the railway, putting passengers and customers first, rebuilding trust in the railway and simplifying the industry."

National train operators were previously only run by a state-owned "operator of last resort", which only takes control when a private company fails.

Ms Alexander called Sunday a "watershed moment" in the government's plan to return the railways to the "service of passengers" and "reform" broken railways.

She argued that public ownership will ensure services are run in the "interests of passengers" and "not shareholders".