Delay-ridden South Western Railway has become the first train company to be renationalised by Labour.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed it as a 'new dawn for railways' as she stepped on board the first train under Government control.
But she stopped short of promising lower ticket prices despite passengers saying all they wanted was 'cheaper fares'.
The carriages were the first to be adorned with Great British Railways livery with the Department for Transport now responsible for the service.
SWR was recently voted one of the worst rail operators coming third bottom in a recent study by watchdog Transport Focus.
