List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom facts for kids

In the United Kingdom, many different companies run trains. These companies help people travel all over the country and move goods from one place to another. Some companies operate passenger trains, while others focus on freight (moving goods).

Who Runs Passenger Trains in Great Britain?

Passenger trains in Great Britain are mainly run by companies called "train operating companies" (TOCs). Most of these companies have special agreements called "franchises" with the government. This means they get permission to run trains on certain routes for a set time. Some companies, known as "open access" operators, run trains without a franchise on specific routes.

Here are some of the main companies running passenger trains today:

• Avanti West Coast: They run trains on the West Coast Main Line, connecting London to places like Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow.
• c2c: This company operates services between London Fenchurch Street and places in Essex.
• Caledonian Sleeper: They run overnight sleeper trains between London and Scotland.
• Chiltern Railways: You can find their trains connecting London Marylebone with destinations in the Chilterns and Birmingham.
• CrossCountry: These trains travel long distances across the country, connecting many major cities without going through London.
• East Midlands Railway: They serve the East Midlands region, linking London St Pancras with cities like Leicester, Nottingham, and Sheffield.
• Elizabeth line: This is a newer service in London, connecting Reading and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It's part of Transport for London.
• Eurostar: This company runs international trains through the Channel Tunnel, connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. It's an "open access" operator.
• Govia Thameslink Railway: This is a big company that runs several different services, including:

* Gatwick Express: Fast trains between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. * Great Northern: Services from London King's Cross to places like Cambridge and Peterborough. * Southern: Trains across South London and the South East of England. * Thameslink: Services through London, connecting Bedford in the north with Brighton in the south.

• Grand Central: An "open access" operator running trains from London King's Cross to Yorkshire and the North East.
• Greater Anglia: They operate trains in East Anglia, including services to London Liverpool Street and the Stansted Express to Stansted Airport.
• Great Western Railway: This company runs trains across the West of England, connecting London Paddington with places like Bristol, Cardiff, and Penzance.
• Heathrow Express: A fast, direct train service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport. It's also an "open access" operator.
• Hull Trains: Another "open access" operator, connecting Hull with London King's Cross.
• London North Eastern Railway (LNER): They run trains on the East Coast Main Line, linking London King's Cross with cities like Leeds, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.
• Lumo: A newer "open access" service running between London King's Cross and Edinburgh.
• Merseyrail: This company operates local train services around Liverpool and Merseyside.
• Northern Trains: They run local and regional services across the North of England.
• ScotRail: This company operates most train services within Scotland.
• Southeastern: They run trains in South East England, connecting London with Kent and parts of East Sussex.
• South Western Railway: This company operates services from London Waterloo to the South West of England, including the Island Line on the Isle of Wight.
• TransPennine Express: They connect major towns and cities across the North of England and into Scotland.
• Transport for Wales Rail: This company runs most train services within Wales and across the border into England.
• West Midlands Trains: They operate services in the West Midlands, including:

* West Midlands Railway: Local services around Birmingham. * London Northwestern Railway: Services connecting London Euston with the West Midlands and North West England.

Past Train Companies

Over the years, many train companies have stopped operating for different reasons. Sometimes their franchise ended, or they merged with another company. Here are a few examples of companies that used to run trains:

• Abellio ScotRail: Used to run trains in Scotland before the current ScotRail took over.
• Arriva Trains Wales: Operated services in Wales before Transport for Wales Rail.
• Central Trains: Ran services in the Midlands, which were later split between CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, and London Midland.
• East Coast: A government-owned company that ran trains on the East Coast Main Line for a while.
• First Capital Connect: Operated services that are now part of Govia Thameslink Railway.
• Virgin Trains: A well-known company that ran trains on the West Coast Main Line for many years before Avanti West Coast.

Train Companies in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, train services are mainly run by government-owned companies.

• Northern Ireland Railways: This is the main passenger train operator in Northern Ireland.
• Enterprise: This is a special service that runs between Belfast and Dublin, jointly operated by Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann (the main train company in the Republic of Ireland).
• Iarnród Éireann: This Irish company also runs a few services that cross the border into Newry in Northern Ireland.

Companies Running Special Rail Tours

Some companies offer special train trips, often using historic trains or luxury carriages, for people who want a unique travel experience. These are called "railtour operators."

• Compass Tours
• DPS Railtours
• Pathfinder Tours
• Scottish Railway Preservation Society
• Venice-Simplon Orient Express (with their British Pullman and Northern Belle services)
• Vintage Trains
• West Coast Railways
• Locomotive Services Limited

There are also luxury railtours like Belmond Grand Hibernian and Steam Dreams (Emerald Isle Explorer). In Northern Ireland, you can find enthusiast railtours run by groups like the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.

Companies Running Freight Trains

Freight trains carry goods and materials across the country. These companies are very important for moving things like food, fuel, and other products.

• Colas Rail
• DCRail
• Direct Rail Services
• DB Cargo UK (used to be called English Welsh & Scottish Railway)
• Freightliner
• GB Railfreight
• Mendip Rail