GWR moving into public ownership: information and FAQs

From 02:00 on 13 December 2026, GWR rail services currently operated by First Greater Western Limited will transfer to Greater Western Railway Limited, as part of the move into public ownership.

Although our legal operator is changing, you’ll continue to see the same GWR services and the same teams running your trains.

Your day-to-day travel, existing bookings, GWR account, GWR Rewards membership and customer services will continue as normal.

You don’t need to do anything because of the change. If you’d like to change your communication preferences or exercise any of your data protection rights, you can find information on how to do this below.

We’ve also answered some common questions about the change, your personal information and your GWR communications.

What is happening to GWR?

At 02:00 on 13 December 2026, GWR rail services currently operated by First Greater Western Limited will transfer to Greater Western Railway Limited as part of the move into public ownership.

When this happens, legal responsibility for running these services, along with the associated rights and responsibilities of the current operator, will move to Greater Western Railway Limited.

Will anything change for me?

Although the legal operator is changing, you’ll continue to see the same GWR services and the same teams running your trains.

Your day-to-day travel, existing bookings, GWR account, GWR Rewards membership and customer services will continue as normal.

Do I need to do anything?

No. You don’t need to take any action because of the change.

You can still choose to change your communication preferences or exercise your existing data protection rights at any time.

What happens to my personal information?

Responsibility for personal information held by First Greater Western Limited in connection with GWR rail services will transfer to Greater Western Railway Limited. This is a legal change only. Your information will continue to be held in the same systems, handled by the same teams and used for the same purposes.

Our reasons for collecting and using your information aren’t changing.

Why is my personal information being transferred?

The transfer helps make sure we can continue providing the GWR services you use when the new operator takes over.

First Greater Western Limited is transferring your personal information under the legitimate interests under Article 6(1)(f) of the UK GDPR, having assessed that the transfer is necessary and fair so that services can continue to run smoothly.

First Greater Western Limited’s Privacy Notice also explains that your information may be passed to a successor operator if the franchise operations transfer.

Read our Privacy Notice

What personal information will transfer?

All personal information held by First Greater Western Limited in connection with GWR rail products and services will be made available to Greater Western Railway Limited.

This will include information relating to:

• your contact details
• booking and journey history
• payment records
• Delay Repay
• customer service correspondence
• your GWR account and GWR Rewards membership
• Season Tickets
• Pay as you go smartcards
• Pullman bookings
• Railcard purchases

Your information will continue to be used only for the same purposes it was originally collected for.

Why have I received an email about my communication preferences?

You’ve received the Marketing Preferences communication because you’ve previously chosen to receive service and/or marketing communications from GWR.

When GWR services transfer to the new operator, information about your existing communication preferences will transfer too.

Why can my communication preferences transfer to Greater Western Railway Limited?

When the services transfer, the associated rights and responsibilities of the current operator will also transfer to Greater Western Railway Limited under the Railways Act, so that services can continue.

This includes information about your contact preferences. It allows Greater Western Railway Limited to rely on your existing permissions on the same basis as the previous operator, provided the purpose of the communications remains consistent.

Do I need to opt in again?

No. Greater Western Railway Limited can continue sending you the same types of communications you’ve already chosen to receive. You don’t need to give us permission again.

Can I change my marketing preferences?

Yes. You’re still fully in control of the marketing communications you receive from GWR. You can change your preferences or opt out of marketing at any time, before or after the transfer.

Any changes you make to your communication preferences will take effect in the normal way.

You can changes your preferences or opt out of communications in the Personal details section of your GWR account.

Login to your GWR account

If I opt out of marketing, will I still receive important information about my journeys?

Yes. Marketing communications are separate from necessary service communications. You may therefore still receive information needed to manage or fulfil your booking or journey, or important service updates.

Are my data protection rights changing?

No. You’ll continue to have the same rights under data protection law.

These include:

1. Access – you can ask for a copy of the personal information held about you.
2. Correction – you can ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.
3. Object – you can object to processing based on legitimate interests.
4. Deletion – you can ask for your information to be deleted in certain circumstances.
5. Restriction – you can ask for the way your information is used to be restricted in certain circumstances.
6. Complain – you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

You can find out more about your data protection rights on the ICO website.

What if I don’t want GWR to hold my personal information?

You can exercise your existing data protection rights, including asking for your personal information to be deleted where the right to erasure applies.

There isn’t a separate process specifically to decline the Data Controller transfer. Instead, you can continue to use your normal data protection rights and communication preference choices.

Find out how to exercise your data rights

How do I exercise my data rights before 13 December?

If you’d like to exercise any of your data protection rights before the transfer takes place, please contact GWR:

Email: GWR-DPO@gwr.com

Post: MH101, GWR, Milford House, Swindon, SN1 1HL

What if I want to exercise my rights after 13 December?

You’ll continue to be able to exercise your normal data protection rights after the transfer.

From 13 December, these requests will be handled under the new Greater Western Railway Limited Data Controller arrangements.

Is GWR’s Privacy Notice changing?

Yes. The updated Privacy Notice for Greater Western Railway Limited will be published on 13 December 2026, when the new company becomes responsible for your personal information.

Until then, the existing First Greater Western Limited Privacy Notice continues to apply.

You can find more information about the programme to transfer rail services into public ownership and the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) as the body responsible for passenger services and infrastructure on the GOV.UK website.