The big picture: Greater Anglia will be the third train operator to be brought under public control, following South Western Rail in May and c2c in July, marking the biggest change to the region's rail services since privatisation in the 1990s.
By the numbers: The government says the wider renationalisation programme will:
Save up to £150 million annually in private operator fees
Come at no extra cost to taxpayers
Complete within 3 years
What they're saying: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "For too long, the British public has had to put up with rail services that simply don't work. A complex system of private train operators has too often failed its users."
Yes, but: It's important to remember that Greater Anglia has been one of the best-performing rail operators in the country in recent years. Its prioritisation for public ownership is simply due to the timing of its franchise expiry rather than any concerns about service quality.
Behind the scenes: The services will be managed by DfT Operator – previously known as DfT Operator of Last Resort Holdings Limited – whose functions will eventually become part of Great British Railways (GBR). This is because legislation doesn't yet exist to create GBR.
The bottom line: As one of the first operators to transfer to public ownership, Greater Anglia's transition will be closely watched as a test case for the government's wider rail reform programme.
Our content is free to read thanks to the generous support of Kingsfleet, Ipswich School and David Button Funeral Directors
Spend your time and money as you wish
Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
Ipswich School
Suffolk's top independent school for the past nine years.
Independent family funeral directors
We are an independent funeral director based in Walton, Felixstowe and cover all local areas, including Ipswich.Ipswich shoplifter back behind bars just months after previous conviction
A man jailed in August for stealing over £1,000 from Ipswich supermarkets is back in prison after being caught stealing again just weeks later, highlighting the challenges of repeat offending in the town centre.
Refill shop launches FIND food bank collection on Woodbridge Road
Customers at Unwrapped & Refill in Ipswich can now pick up an extra tin or jar and drop it in a FIND (Families in Need) donation basket, helping Ipswich families facing hardship this Christmas and beyond.
Twenty-three years of hope and heartbreak: Why Broomhill Pool campaigners refuse to give up
Despite two failed attempts to secure funding for one of Britain's finest lidos, the Broomhill Pool Trust chairman is urging stakeholders to "finally get the project over the line" – arguing the scheme is ready-made with planning permission, design approval, and unprecedented public support.Nearly 5,000 military homes in East of England set for major upgrade
Armed forces families in nearly 5,000 military homes across the East of England will benefit from a new Defence Housing Strategy that commits £9 billion over the next decade to upgrade and modernise military accommodation.New project aims to shine light on 'unrecorded' disability experiences in Suffolk
A new heritage project will capture the lived experiences of people with disabilities in Suffolk, addressing a gap in historical records while challenging perceptions about inclusion and accessibility in communities today.Kingsfleet, Ipswich School and David Button Funeral Directors
Spend your time and money as you wish
Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.Ipswich School
Suffolk's top independent school for the past nine years.Independent family funeral directors
We are an independent funeral director based in Walton, Felixstowe and cover all local areas, including Ipswich.Over 1,500 Suffolk residents sign petition calling for quieter fireworks
More than 1,500 people across Suffolk have signed a petition urging the government to reduce the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels.More than 8,600 Ipswich and Central Suffolk residents sign petition against digital ID cards
Thousands of residents in the Ipswich and Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituencies have signed a parliamentary petition opposing the introduction of digital ID cards, making it the most popular petition in the area.Blues show steel to salvage point against in-form Hornets
Ipswich Town demonstrated their growing resilience on Tuesday night, recovering from an early setback to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a Watford side that had hammered second-placed Middlesbrough 3-0 just days earlier.
87-year-old veteran leads Ipswich march as Medals2Matches creates space for heroes to share stories
Phil Hubert, 87, performed The Last Post before leading veterans through Ipswich town centre to Portman Road on Tuesday, 4 November, in a moment that captured the spirit of Medals2Matches – an initiative that has helped veterans open up, connect, and speak about their wellbeing for four years.Sackers sells trade waste arm to Biffa
National waste firm Biffa has acquired the trade waste arm of Sackers, a long-established scrap yard and waste management company based near Ipswich, for an undisclosed sum.Kingsfleet, Ipswich School and David Button Funeral Directors
Spend your time and money as you wish
Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.Ipswich School
Suffolk's top independent school for the past nine years.Independent family funeral directors
We are an independent funeral director based in Walton, Felixstowe and cover all local areas, including Ipswich.Ipswich IT firm ICS reports 30% growth and expands team
ICS, an IT support company based in Ipswich, has reported 30% growth over the past year and increased its headcount by 25% in the last three months.How you can help local children wake up to gifts this Christmas
Shoppers at the Buttermarket Centre can donate new toys and food items to ensure no Ipswich family goes without this festive season, with donations accepted until 14 December.
