All change: Eversheds Sutherland advises DfT on Chiltern Railways transition

Chiltern Railways officially entered public ownership on 20 September 2026 at 02:00 BST. The operator provides commuter and regional rail passenger services from London Marylebone along the M40 corridor, serving destinations including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands.

A large, cross-practice team from the global law firm advised the DfT and DfT Operator Limited throughout the process, providing commercial, specialist rail and real estate support.

Eversheds Sutherland's team was led by commercial Partner William Spickett and comprised Partners Agnes Koko, Head of Transport, Phillip Tunney and Liz Fitzsimons; Legal Director Andrew Bell; Principal Associate Madhulika Kanaujia; Senior Associate Anna Allen; Associates Matthew Owen, Brad Gardiner, Chloe Kunz and Eleanor Gill; and Consultant Lucy Griffiths.

This latest mandate reinforces Eversheds Sutherland's position as a leading adviser on complex, large-scale rail transitions and its continuing role supporting the Government's Public Ownership Programme.

William Spickett, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

"Transitions of this scale are operationally complex and highly scrutinised, making careful planning and coordination essential throughout the process. The transfer of Chiltern Railways into public ownership represents another significant milestone in the Government's programme of rail reform, and we are pleased to have once again supported DfTO and the DfT on a matter of national importance.

"The successful transition reflects a considerable collective effort across multiple teams and disciplines, ensuring continuity of service for passengers while supporting the delivery of the Government's long-term vision for the rail network."

The transition marks the latest stage in the Government's rail reform programme and further expands the publicly owned network operated by DfT Operator Limited. With the addition of Chiltern Railways, DfTO now operates 12,000 rail services each day and delivers more than one billion passenger journeys annually across its networks.

The transfer is intended to support a programme of investment and service improvements for passengers, including the introduction of new trains, additional services and capacity, station enhancements and other customer-focused upgrades across the Chiltern network.

Eversheds Sutherland has advised the DfT and DfT Operator Limited on a number of similar transactions in recent years, including the successful transfers of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Greater Anglia into public ownership.