South Western Railway (SWR) services will be operated by a new company – South Western Railway Limited – as part of a planned transition into public ownership from Sunday, 25 May.

SWR said: "Although the legal operator is changing, your experience won't. You'll continue to see the same branding, same services, and the same teams running your trains. 

"There will also be some new responsibilities – such as the Freedom of Information Act – but these won't affect how your data is used day to day."

Until the transfer, First MTR South Western Trains Limited will continue to operate the SWR rail franchise as normal. 

All tickets will remain valid, and travellers should continue to use and purchase tickets in the normal way.

SWR added: "For any journeys you've booked that are due to take place after 25 May 2025, your tickets will be honoured, and we will continue to provide you with any important updates about your bookings."  

Responsibility for travellers' personal data will transfer from First MTR South Western Trains Limited to South Western Railway Limited.

This is a legal change only – travellers' data will continue to be handled in the same systems, by the same teams, and used for the same purposes.

The train operator continued: "The transfer ensures continuity of service with minimal impact on travellers.

"It's based on legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR), which means both organisations have assessed that it's necessary and fair for operations to continue smoothly."

SWR says that its reasons for collecting and using customers' data "remain unchanged".

"Your personal data will be used in accordance with the law and the South Western Railway Ltd Privacy Policy, to ensure that the South Western Railway service that you are familiar with continues to operate. (Unless you choose to consent to other uses, such as to receive electronic marketing (email) from South Western Railway Ltd.)," it added.

Moreover, South Western Railway Ltd will now be the controller of customers' personal data.

The new privacy notice explains customers' rights under data protection laws and how and why personal data will be processed by or on behalf of South Western Railway Ltd.

With regards to the retention of data, SWR explained: "If First MTR South Western Trains Limited needs to retain any of your personal data after 25 May 2025, it will be held in accordance with our Privacy Notice."

To exercise data rights before 25 May, it can be done by contacting SWR at [email protected]

For any questions or concerns, submit a query via this contact form. 

The South Western Railway Ltd new privacy notice can be read here.