In an unprecedented move that could signal a new era for Britain’s railways, the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) has given the green light to the UK’s first ever co-operatively owned train operator. The historic decision paves the way for Go-op, a trailblazing open-access provider based in Somerset, to begin running passenger services across the southwest of England by December 2025.
A New Model for Rail Ownership
Go-op represents a radical departure from the traditional franchise model that has dominated the UK rail industry for decades. As a co-operative, it will be owned and managed by its staff and the local community, with all profits reinvested back into improving services. This groundbreaking approach aims to put passengers and workers at the heart of operations, fostering a more responsive, accountable railway that truly serves the needs of its users.
We’ve been working on this project for over a decade now and it has its origins in a group of frustrated rail passengers in the West Country.
– Alex Lawrie, Go-op’s Chair
According to Lawrie, the impetus for Go-op came from the realization that while there was plenty of rail infrastructure crisscrossing Somerset and Wiltshire, actual train services connecting communities within those counties were sorely lacking. By establishing a co-operative, the group hopes to fill that gap and provide much-needed links for local residents and businesses.
A Unique Funding Model
Another groundbreaking aspect of Go-op’s plan is its innovative financing structure. Unlike most rail operators, it intends to launch its services without any public subsidies, relying instead on a mix of loans and crowdfunded investment. This includes offering “community shares” – a type of equity investment focused on delivering steady returns rather than quick profits.
By tapping into local support and aligning incentives with the communities it serves, Go-op hopes to create a more sustainable, resilient railway that isn’t beholden to the short-term demands of distant shareholders. If successful, it could provide a replicable template for other parts of the country looking to take greater control over their transport infrastructure.
Competing with the Big Players
Of course, establishing a community-owned railway is no small feat, especially when going up against entrenched incumbents like Great Western Railway. Go-op will need to recruit and train a whole new workforce, secure rolling stock, and implement the necessary safety systems before it can welcome its first passengers.
But the ORR’s endorsement suggests that regulators see genuine potential in Go-op’s unconventional approach. In approving the application, the ORR cited the benefits that increased competition and co-operative ownership could bring for both passengers and the wider rail industry.
Our decision gives Go-op the opportunity to bring the first co-operatively owned train service and the first regional open-access service in the UK.
– Martin Jones, Deputy Director at ORR
A Turning Point for Rail Policy?
The Go-op approval comes at a pivotal moment for UK rail policy. With the government in Westminster pursuing a major overhaul of the franchising system and devolved authorities seeking greater control over their networks, the industry is ripe for experimentation and fresh thinking.
In this context, Go-op’s co-operative model could serve as an important proof of concept. By demonstrating that community ownership is viable – and even desirable – for regional rail services, it may encourage policymakers to be bolder in decentralizing control and empowering local stakeholders.
At the same time, Go-op will still have to navigate the complex web of regulations, safety protocols, and operational challenges that define modern railroading. Securing adequate financing, building effective partnerships with Network Rail and other key actors, and delivering reliable, high-quality services day in and day out will be essential to winning over passengers and sustaining community support.
Charting a New Course
Ultimately, the significance of the Go-op decision extends far beyond the rural stretches of Somerset and Wiltshire it aims to serve. In an industry long dominated by sprawling franchises and state-owned behemoths, it represents a radical new vision for how railways can be owned, operated, and governed.
Whether Go-op succeeds in realizing that vision remains to be seen. But by securing the right to try, it has already achieved something remarkable: sparking a vital conversation about the future of rail travel in the UK – and beyond. As communities from Cornwall to Cumbria contemplate how to improve their own local networks, they will be watching Somerset’s co-operative experiment with keen interest.
In the coming years, Britain’s railways are set to undergo a once-in-a-generation transformation as the country grapples with the challenges of decarbonization, digitalization, and post-pandemic recovery. Against that backdrop, Go-op serves as an important reminder that sometimes, the most innovative solutions emerge not from the center, but from the grassroots.
As the first trains bearing Go-op’s community-owned livery prepare to pull out of the station, they will carry with them the hopes not just of a few plucky pioneers in the West Country, but of a nation hungry for a railway renaissance. Where they lead, others may soon follow – heralding a new era of local empowerment and co-operative enterprise on the UK’s tracks.
