Why is Chiltern Railways transferring into public ownership?
Chiltern Railways will enter public ownership on Sunday, 20 September. All passenger train services under contract with the Department for Transport will eventually transfer into public ownership. This is part of the Government’s long-term plan to bring train operators and rail infrastructure together to form Great British Railways.
Tickets & Timetables
Will my ticket still be valid?
Yes. All tickets are still valid for the dates shown on the ticket.
My journey is partly on a Chiltern Railways-operated service and partly on another train operator - is my ticket valid?
Yes, all valid tickets will continue to be accepted as they would have been before the transfer. We are working with all other train companies and third parties, such as Trainline, to ensure this process is uninterrupted.
Are ticket prices going to change?
Ticket prices are not changing as a direct result of the transfer.
I have travel vouchers from a previous refund. Will these be honoured?
Yes, you can still use your travel vouchers. They will remain valid until their expiry date.
Will season tickets and railcards be affected?
No, season tickets and railcards will continue to be accepted as normal. Their benefits and validity remain unchanged. There are no changes to railcard policies on Chiltern services.
Can I still buy my tickets in the normal way?
Yes, there are no changes to the way you buy tickets, and you can continue to do this in the way you normally would, either digitally or from a ticket office.
Will timetables or routes change?
There are no planned changes to timetables and routes as a direct result of the transfer.
Will the new services on the December timetable still be going ahead?
Yes, Chiltern will be introducing new services from December.
Customer Experience
Who do I contact for customer services?
For any questions relating to your journey, please contact:
Customer Services (Mon-Sun, 08:00 - 20:00)
03456 005 165
Will there be any changes to compensation for delays and cancellations?
The Delay Repay scheme and other compensation policies remain unchanged.
I have booked assisted travel. Do I need to re-book?
No, you do not need to rebook. All your travel arrangements will be carried forward, and this transfer will not affect your journey.
Public Ownership
Who is the new owning group of Chiltern Railways?
DFTO, the Government’s rail owning group, is our new owning group now we are in public ownership.
What is Great British Railways?
Great British Railways (GBR) will bring together the work of 17 different organisations – from train operators to public bodies and Government – creating a single organisation responsible for operating, maintaining and improving our railways. It will be the “directing mind” for the railway, transparently making decisions with a whole system view to make the most of constrained network capacity and maximise passenger and taxpayer benefit.
Will the Chiltern Railways brand remain after transfer to public ownership?
The brand will transition in time to be part of Great British Railways.
Will public ownership improve Chiltern Railways-operated services performance?
We continually work with Network Rail and the wider industry to improve performance and will continue doing so under DFTO ownership.
How will public ownership improve Chiltern Railways?
Public ownership is bringing together 17 rail industry organisations to end years of fragmentation, drive up standards for customers and simplify fares and ticketing. By unifying track and train across the country, Great British Railways will be able to focus on getting the basics right for customers, and provide better value for taxpayers. Instead of having to navigate multiple train operators, passengers will once again simply be able to use ‘the railway’.