The Department for Transport has revealed that the latest train operator to be given a date for renationalisation is Govia Thameslink Railway.
The change, which will take effect on 31 May next year, will renationalise one operator but four brands of Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink.
It was already known that Greater Anglia is the next contract to end, on 12 October, followed by West Midlands Trains on 1 February 2026.
The government said Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway would then follow Govia Thameslink Railway back into public ownership, but it has not revealed the dates.
However, it did say that 8 out of ten train journeys will be made on nationalised services by the middle of next year.
All passenger operators with DfT contracts are expected to return to public ownership by the end of 2027 and will eventually be integrated as Great British Railways.
Legislation to establish GBR is to be introduced in the new Parliamentary session this autumn.
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