List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom

This article only covers companies operating trains on Network Rail lines. For other companies, see List of British heritage and private railways.

There are many companies operating trains in the United Kingdom, including the 22 operators of franchised passenger services, officially referred to as train operating companies (TOCs), as distinct from freight operating companies.

Passenger operators in Great Britain
Operator Type Franchise Parent(s) Passenger satisfaction[1] Start date Expiry date Replaced Code
Abellio ScotRail Franchise ScotRail Abellio 90% 1 April 2015 31 March 2022 First ScotRail SR
Arriva Rail London TfL concession London Overground Arriva UK Trains 87% 13 November 2016[2][3][4] 26 May 2024 London Overground Rail Operations LO
Avanti West Coast Franchise West Coast Partnership FirstGroup (70%)
Trenitalia (30%)		 84% 8 December 2019 31 March 2031 Virgin Trains VT
c2c Franchise Essex Thameside Trenitalia 84% 26 May 1996 10 November 2029 Network SouthEast
(London, Tilbury & Southend Division)		 CC
Caledonian Sleeper Franchise Caledonian Sleeper Serco — 31 March 2015 31 March 2030 First ScotRail CS
Chiltern Railways Franchise Chiltern Railways Arriva UK Trains 88% 21 July 1996 21 December 2021[5] Network SouthEast (Chiltern Division) CH
CrossCountry Franchise New CrossCountry Arriva UK Trains 85% 11 November 2007 18 October 2020[6] Central Trains (Birmingham – Stansted & Cardiff – Nottingham route)
Virgin CrossCountry		 XC
East Midlands Railway Franchise East Midlands Abellio 83% 18 August 2019 21 August 2027 East Midlands Trains EM
Eurostar Open access — Eurostar International Limited — 14 November 1994 — ES
Govia Thameslink Railway (branded as: Thameslink / Southern / Great Northern / Gatwick Express) Franchise Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Govia 80% 14 September 2014 September 2021[7] First Capital Connect, Southern SN, TL, GN, GX
Grand Central[8] Open access — Arriva UK Trains 95% 18 December 2007 December 2026[9] GC
Greater Anglia Franchise East Anglia Abellio (60%)
Mitsui (40%)		 77% 16 October 2016[10] October 2025[7][7] National Express East Anglia LE
Great Western Railway Franchise Greater Western FirstGroup 86% 1 April 2006 31 March 2023[11] First Great Western
First Great Western Link
Wessex Trains		 GW
Heathrow Express Open access — Heathrow Airport Holdings 94% 23 June 1998 — HX
Hull Trains Open access — FirstGroup 92% 25 September 2002 December 2029[12] HT
London North Eastern Railway Franchise InterCity East Coast Department for Transport 91% 24 June 2018 2025 Virgin Trains East Coast GR
Merseyrail Merseytravel contract Merseyrail Serco-Abellio 90% 20 July 2003 19 July 2028[5] Arriva Trains Merseyside ME
Northern Trains Franchise Northern Department for Transport 77% 1 March 2020 — Arriva Rail North NT
Southeastern Franchise Integrated Kent Govia 83% 1 April 2006 16 October 2021[11] South Eastern Trains SE
South Western Railway Franchise South Western FirstGroup (70%)
MTR Corporation (30%)		 75% 20 August 2017 18 August 2024[7] South West Trains SW, IL
TfL Rail TfL concession Crossrail MTR Corporation 89% 31 May 2015 30 May 2023 Greater Anglia (Liverpool Street – Shenfield)

Heathrow Connect Heathrow Express (Heathrow Central – Heathrow T4 shuttle)

 XR
TransPennine Express Franchise TransPennine Express FirstGroup 78% 1 April 2016 31 March 2023[7] First TransPennine Express TP
Transport for Wales Franchise Wales & Borders Keolis/Amey 81% 14 October 2018 15 October 2033 Arriva Trains Wales AW
West Midlands Trains Franchise West Midlands Abellio (70%)
JR East (15%)
Mitsui (15%)		 79% 10 December 2017[7] April 2026[7] London Midland LM

There are also a number of light rail systems.

Defunct operating companies

Operating companies have ceased to exist for various reasons, including withdrawal of the franchise, the term of the franchise has expired, bankruptcy or merger.

Operator Type Franchise Parent(s) Date started Date ceased Replaced by
Anglia Railways Franchise Anglia GB Railways 5 January 1997 31 March 2004 One
Arriva Trains Wales Franchise Wales & Borders Arriva UK Trains 8 December 2003 13 October 2018[5] Transport for Wales
Arriva Trains
Merseyside		 Merseytravel contract Merseyrail Arriva UK Trains February 2000 20 July 2003 Merseyrail
Arriva Trains Northern Franchise Regional Railways North East Arriva UK Trains February 2000 12 December 2004 First TransPennine Express
Northern Rail
Arriva Rail North Franchise Northern Arriva UK Trains 1 April 2016 29 February 2020 Northern Trains
Central Trains Franchise Central National Express 2 March 1997 10 November 2007 CrossCountry
East Midlands Trains
London Midland
Connex South Central Franchise Network SouthCentral Connex 13 October 1996 16 June 2001 Southern
Connex South Eastern Franchise South Eastern Connex 26 May 1996 9 November 2003 South Eastern Trains
East Coast Franchise InterCity East Coast Directly Operated Railways 14 November 2009 28 February 2015 Virgin Trains East Coast
East Midlands Trains Franchise East Midlands Stagecoach 11 November 2007 17 August 2019 East Midlands Railway
First Capital Connect Franchise Thameslink Great Northern FirstGroup 1 April 2006 13 September 2014 Govia Thameslink Railway
First Great Eastern Franchise Great Eastern FirstGroup 5 January 1997 31 March 2004 One
First Great Western Link Franchise Thames FirstGroup 1 April 2004 31 March 2006 First Great Western
First North Western Franchise North West Regional Railways FirstGroup 2 March 1997 12 December 2004 Arriva Trains Wales
First TransPennine Express
Northern Rail
First ScotRail Franchise Scotrail FirstGroup 17 October 2004 31 March 2015 Abellio ScotRail
First TransPennine Express Franchise TransPennine Express FirstGroup (55%)
Keolis (45%)		 1 February 2004 31 March 2016 TransPennine Express
Gatwick Express Franchise Gatwick Express National Express 28 April 1996 22 June 2008 Southern
Great North Eastern Railway Franchise InterCity East Coast Sea Containers 28 April 1996 8 December 2007 National Express East Coast
Great Western Trains Franchise Great Western Great Western Holdings 4 February 1996 March 1998 First Great Western
Heathrow Connect Open Access — Heathrow Airport Holdings, FirstGroup 12 June 2005 19 May 2018 TfL Rail
Island Line Franchise Island Line Stagecoach 13 October 1996 3 February 2007 South West Trains
London Midland Franchise West Midlands Govia 11 November 2007 9 December 2017 West Midlands Trains
London Overground Rail Operations TfL concession London Overground Arriva UK Trains (50%)
MTR Corporation (50%)		 11 November 2007 12 November 2016[13] Arriva Rail London
Merseyrail Electrics Merseytravel contract Merseyrail MTL 19 January 1997 February 2000 Arriva Trains Merseyside
Midland Mainline Franchise Midland Main Line National Express 28 February 1996 10 November 2007 East Midlands Trains
National Express East Anglia Franchise Greater Anglia National Express 1 April 2004 5 February 2012 Greater Anglia
National Express East Coast Franchise InterCity East Coast National Express 9 December 2007 13 November 2009 East Coast
Northern Rail Franchise Northern Serco-Abellio 12 December 2004 31 March 2016 Arriva Rail North
Northern Spirit Franchise Regional Railways North East MTL 2 March 1997 February 2000 Arriva Trains Northern
North Western Trains Franchise North West Regional Railways Great Western Holdings 2 March 1997 March 1998 First North Western
ScotRail Franchise ScotRail National Express 31 March 1997 17 October 2004 First ScotRail
Silverlink Franchise North London Railways National Express 2 March 1997 10 November 2007 London Midland
London Overground Rail Operations
South Eastern Trains Franchise South Eastern Strategic Rail Authority 9 November 2003 31 March 2006 Southeastern
South West Trains Franchise South West Stagecoach 4 February 2007 19 August 2017[14] South Western Railway
Southern Franchise South Central Govia 26 August 2001 25 July 2015 Connex South Central
Thames Trains Franchise Thames Go-Ahead Group 13 October 1996 31 March 2004 First Great Western Link
Thameslink Franchise Thameslink Govia 2 March 1997 31 March 2006 First Capital Connect
Valley Lines Franchise Valley Lines National Express 13 October 1996 13 October 2001 Wales & Borders
Virgin Trains East Coast Franchise InterCity East Coast Virgin Group (10%)
Stagecoach (90%)		 1 March 2015 23 June 2018 London North Eastern Railway
Virgin CrossCountry Franchise CrossCountry Virgin Rail Group 5 January 1997 10 November 2007 CrossCountry
First TransPennine Express
Virgin Trains West Coast
Virgin Trains Franchise InterCity West Coast Virgin Rail Group 9 March 1997 7 December 2019[15] InterCity (West Coast Division)
West Anglia Great Northern
(West Anglia Main Line and Lea Valley Lines)		 Franchise West Anglia Great Northern National Express 5 January 1997 31 March 2004 One
West Anglia Great Northern
(Great Northern and Fenline routes)		 Franchise West Anglia Great Northern National Express 5 January 1997 31 March 2006 First Capital Connect
Wales & Borders Franchise Wales & Borders National Express 14 October 2001 7 December 2003 Arriva Trains Wales
Wales & West Franchise Wales & West National Express 13 October 1996 13 October 2001 Wales & Borders
Wessex Trains
Wessex Trains Franchise Wessex National Express 14 October 2001 31 March 2006 First Great Western
Wrexham & Shropshire Open access Wrexham to London DB Regio 28 April 2008 28 January 2011 Ceased due to lack of profitability

Future operators

Passenger operators in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, most passenger trains are government-owned by Translink. The following brands are used:

  • Northern Ireland Railways
  • The Enterprise service on the Belfast-Dublin line, jointly operated by Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail)

The only exception is that Iarnród Éireann operate one early morning cross-border commuter service from Newry to Dublin Pearse every weekday, as part of its Dublin Suburban Rail operations.

Railtour operators
See also: Railtour

In Northern Ireland

  • Enthusiast Railtours
  • Luxury Railtours
    • Belmond Grand Hibernian (From August 2016)
    • Steam Dreams (Emerald Isle Explorer)

Freight operators

Franchised passenger operator structure in Great Britain
Sector of British Rail Franchise Pre-grouping company Original privatised operator Current operator(s)
InterCity Caledonian Sleeper N/A ScotRail Caledonian Sleeper
East Midlands Midland Railway Midland Mainline East Midlands Railway
Greater Western Great Western Railway Great Western Trains Great Western Railway
InterCity East Coast Great Northern Railway Great North Eastern Railway London North Eastern Railway
New CrossCountry N/A Virgin CrossCountry CrossCountry
West Coast Partnership London & North Western Railway Virgin Trains West Coast Avanti West Coast
Network SouthEast Chiltern Great Central Railway Chiltern Railways Chiltern Railways
East Anglia Great Eastern Railway Anglia Railways Greater Anglia
Essex Thameside London, Tilbury & Southend Railway LTS Rail c2c
South Eastern South Eastern & Chatham Railway Connex South Eastern Southeastern
South Western London & South Western Railway South West Trains South Western Railway
Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Connex South Central Thameslink

Southern

Great Northern

(Govia Thameslink Railway)

West Midlands Central Trains West Midlands Railway

London Northwestern Railway

(West Midlands Trains)

Regional Railways Wales & Borders Predominantly London & North Western Railway Wales and Borders Transport for Wales
TransPennine Express North Western Trains TransPennine Express
Northern Northern Spirit Northern Trains
ScotRail Caledonian Railway, Glasgow & South Western Railway,
Great North of Scotland Railway, Highland Railway and
North British Railway		 ScotRail Abellio ScotRail

See also

References
  1. "National Rail Passenger Survey Spring 2020". Transport Focus. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  2. Arriva wins £1.5bn London Overground contract BBC News 18 March 2016
  3. Transport for London announces intention to award London Overground contract to Arriva Arriva 18 March 2016
  4. TfL confirm London Overground contract with Arriva signed Railway Technology Magazine 18 April 2016
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Extension of Current Franchise - Cross Country". RMT. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  7. "Rail franchise schedule" (PDF). Department of Transport. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  8. In May 2010 Grand Northern services began, branded Grand Central to allow a single fleet pool to be used.
  9. "10-year contract extension". grandcentralrail.com.
  10. "Railway plan puts new focus on passengers". Department for Transport. 26 March 2013.
  11. "Critical rail services protected in new deals for GWR and Southeastern". GOV.UK. Department for Transport. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  12. £60m Hull Trains electro-diesel train deal signed Railway Gazette International 2 November 2016
  13. Transport for London. "Media". tfl.gov.uk.
  14. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533363/swf-itt.pdf
  15. "FirstGroup replaces Virgin to run West Coast route". BBC Sport. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  16. "London Reconnections: TfL Board Meeting Summary: DLR, Overground and Other Ways of Travelling". londonreconnections.blogspot.com.
  17. Applications for the East Coast Main Line Office of Rail and Road 12 May 2016
  18. First Group to run Edinburgh to London budget rail service BBC News 12 May 2016
  19. VTEC and FirstGroup granted East Coast Main Line paths Railway Gazette International 12 May 2016
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