List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom facts for kids
There are several companies operating trains in the United Kingdom. These include the operators of passenger services, which are, rather confusingly, officially referred to as "train operating companies" or TOCs, as distinct from "freight operating companies".
Contents
Passenger operators in Great Britain
Passenger operator structure in Great Britain
| Sector of British Rail | Division | Original Privatised Operator | Current Operator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intercity | East Coast | Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) | East Coast formerly National Express East Coast |
| West Coast | Virgin Trains | Unchanged | |
| Midland | Midland Mainline | East Midlands Trains (EMT) | |
| Great Western | Great Western Trains | First Great Western (FGW) | |
| Gatwick Express | Gatwick Express | Southern | |
| CrossCountry | Virgin CrossCountry | CrossCountry | |
| Great Eastern | Anglia Railways | National Express East Anglia Branded as ‘one’ from 2004-2008 | |
| Network SouthEast | LTS Rail | C2C | |
| Chiltern Railways | Unchanged | ||
| First Great Eastern (FGE) | National Express East Anglia Branded as ‘one’ from 2004-2008 | ||
| Thames Trains | First Great Western (FGW) | ||
| Island Line | Now part of South West Trains (SWT) | ||
| North London Railways (Silverlink) | London Midland London Overground |
||
| Connex South Eastern | Southeastern formerly South Eastern Trains (SET) | ||
| Connex South Central | Southern Branded as SouthCentral from 2000-2004 | ||
| Thameslink | First Capital Connect (FCC) | ||
| West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN) | National Express East Anglia West Anglia (WA) First Capital Connect (FCC) Great Northern (GN) |
||
| South West Trains (SWT) | Unchanged | ||
| Regional Railways - North West | North Western Trains | First North Western (FNW) | Northern Trains Transpennine Express |
| Regional Railways - North East | Northern Spirit | Arriva Trains Northern | |
| Regional Railways - Scotland | ScotRail | First ScotRail (FSR) | |
| Regional Railways - South Wales and West | Wales and West | Wales and Borders Wessex Trains |
First Great Western (FGW) |
| Regional Railways - Valley Lines | Valley Lines | Wales and Borders | Transport for Wales |
| Regional Railways - Merseyrail electrics | Merseyrail Electrics | Arriva Trains Merseyside | Merseyrail |
| Regional Railways - Central | Central Trains | CrossCountry | |
| West midlands trains. | |||
| East Midlands Trains | |||
Current passenger operators
The following operate the services that comprise the National Rail network in Great Britain.
| Operator | Type | Franchise | Parent(s) | Passenger satisfaction | Start date | Expiry date | Replaced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arriva Trains Wales/ Trenau Arriva Cymru |
Franchise | Wales and Borders | Arriva Group | 87% | 8 December 2003 | 2018 | Wales and Borders |
| c2c | Franchise | Essex Thameside | National Express Group | 91% | 26 May 1996 | 26 May 2013 | Network SouthEast (London, Tilbury and Southend Division) |
| Caledonian Sleeper | Branded Service | ScotRail | FirstGroup | 17 October 2004 | 2014 | ||
| Chiltern Railways | Franchise | Chiltern | DB Regio | 90% | 21 July 1996 | 2022 | Network SouthEast (Chiltern Division) |
| CrossCountry | Franchise | Cross Country | Arriva Group | 84% | 11 November 2007 | 1 April 2016 | Central Trains (Birmingham - Stansted & Cardiff - Nottingham route) & Virgin Trains (Cross Country franchise) |
| East Coast | Franchise | InterCity East Coast | Directly Operated Railways | 89% | 14 November 2009 | 2011 | National Express East Coast |
| East Midlands Trains | Franchise | East Midlands | Stagecoach Group | 88% | 11 November 2007 | 31 March 2015 | Central Trains (Liverpool - Norwich & East Midlands routes) & Midland Mainline |
| Eurostar | Open-Access | N/A | Eurostar (U.K.) Ltd., SNCF & NMBS/SNCB | 14 November 1994 | |||
| First Capital Connect | Franchise | Great Northern/ Thameslink |
FirstGroup | 76% | 1 April 2006 | 2015 | Thameslink & West Anglia Great Northern (Great Northern and Fenline routes) |
| First Great Western | Franchise | Greater Western | FirstGroup | 82% | 1 April 2006 | 2016 | First Great Western, First Great Western Link, Wessex Trains |
| First Hull Trains | Open-Access | N/A | First Group & Renaissance Trains | 93% | 25 September 2000 | 2016 | |
| First ScotRail | Franchise | ScotRail | FirstGroup | 86% | 17 October 2004 | 2014 | ScotRail |
| First TransPennine Express | Franchise | TransPennine | First Group & Keolis | 87% | 1 February 2004 | 2012/2017 | Arriva Trains Northern & First North Western |
| Gatwick Express | Branded Service | South Central | Govia | 22 June 2008 | July 2015/July 2017 | ||
| Grand Central | Open-Access | N/A | Equishare Partners | 95% | 18 December 2007 | 2016 | |
| Heathrow Connect | Open-Access | N/A | BAA & First Group | 92% | 12 June 2005 | ||
| Heathrow Express | Open-Access | N/A | BAA | 93% | 23 June 1998 | ||
| Island Line Trains | Branded Service | South Western | Stagecoach Group | 4 February 2007 | February 2017 | ||
| London Midland | Franchise | West Midlands | Govia | 86% | 11 November 2007 | 19 September 2015 | Central Trains (Birmingham routes) & Silverlink (Northampton Line) |
| London Overground | TfL contract | London Overground | MTR Corporation/DB Regio | 85% | 11 November 2007 | 2014/2016 | Silverlink (North London Lines) |
| Merseyrail | Merseytravel contract | Merseyrail | Serco Group & Abellio | 93% | 20 July 2003 | 2028 | Arriva Trains Merseyside |
| National Express East Anglia | Franchise | Greater Anglia | National Express Group | 79% | 1 April 2004 | 31 March 2011 | 'one' brand (see below), formerly Anglia Railways, First Great Eastern & West Anglia Great Northern Railway (West Anglia Main Line and Lea Valley Lines) |
| Night Riviera | Branded Service | Greater Western | First Group | 1 April 2006 | 2016 | ||
| Northern Rail | Franchise | Northern | Serco Group & Abellio | 82% | 12 December 2004 | September 2013 | Arriva Trains Northern & First North Western |
| North Yorkshire Moors Railway | Open-Access | N/A | Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises plc | April 2007 | (additional —Grosmont—Whitby services) | ||
| Southeastern | Franchise | Integrated Kent | Govia | 80% | 1 April 2006 | 31 March 2014 | South Eastern Trains |
| Southern | Franchise | South Central | Govia | 82% | 26 August 2001 | July 2015/July 2017 | Connex South Central |
| South West Trains | Franchise | South Western | Stagecoach Group | 87% | 4 February 2007 | February 2017 | South West Trains & Island Line |
| Stansted Express | Branded service | Greater Anglia | National Express Group | 1 April 2004 | 31 March 2011 | ||
| Virgin Trains | Franchise | InterCity West Coast | Virgin Group & Stagecoach Group | 90% | 9 March 1997 | 31 March 2012 | InterCity (West Coast Division) |
| West Coast Railway Company | Open-Access | N/A | 1998 | (additional Fort William—Mallaig services) |
There are also several heritage lines and light rail systems.
Defunct operating companies
A number of operating companies have ceased to exist for a number of reasons, including premature withdrawal of the franchise; the natural term of the franchise has expired; bankruptcy; or there has been a merger.
| Operator | Type | Franchise | Parent(s) | Date started | Date ceased | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia Railways | Franchise | Anglia | GB Railways | 5 January 1997 | 1 April 2004 | 'one' (Now National Express East Anglia) |
| Arriva Trains Merseyside |
Franchise | Merseyside | Arriva Group | 1999 | June 2003 | Merseyrail |
| Arriva Trains Northern | Franchise | Regional Railways North East | Arriva Group | 2001 | 12 December 2004 | Split into Northern Rail & TransPennine Express |
| Central Trains | Franchise | Central | National Express Group | 2 March 1997 | 11 November 2007 | Split into CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains & London Midland |
| Central Citylink | Branded Service | Part of Central | National Express Group | 2 March 1997 | 11 November 2007 | Split into CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains & London Midland |
| Connex South Central | Franchise | South Central | Connex | 1996 | 2001 | Southern |
| Connex South Eastern | Franchise | South Eastern | Connex | 1996 | 9 November 2003 | South Eastern Trains |
| First Great Eastern | Franchise | Great Eastern | First Group | January 1997 | 1 April 2004 | 'one' (Now National Express East Anglia) |
| First Great Western Link |
Franchise | Thames | First Group | April 2004 | 1 April 2006 | Merged with First Great Western |
| First North Western | Franchise | North West Regional Railways | First Group | 2 March 1997 | 12 December 2004 | Split into Northern Rail & TransPennine Express |
| Gatwick Express | Franchise | Gatwick Express | National Express Group | April 28, 1996 | June 22, 2008 | Southern (continued as sub brand) |
| Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) | Franchise | InterCity East Coast | Sea Containers | April 1996 | 08 December 2007 | National Express East Coast |
| Great Western Trains | Franchise | Great Western | Great Western Holdings | 1996 | 1998 | First Great Western |
| Island Line | Franchise | Island Line | Stagecoach Group | 1996 | 3 February 2007 | Merged with South West Trains |
| Merseyrail Electrics | Franchise | Merseyrail | MTL | 1997 | February 2000 | Arriva Trains Merseyside |
| Midland Mainline | Franchise | Midland Main Line | National Express Group | April 1996 | 11 November 2007 | East Midlands Trains |
| National Express East Coast | Franchise | InterCity East Coast | National Express Group | 09 December 2007 | 13 November 2009 | East Coast |
| Northern Spirit | Franchise | Regional Railways North East | MTL | 1997 | February 2000 | Arriva Trains Northern |
| North Western Trains | Franchise | North West Regional Railways | Great Western Holdings | 2 March 1997 | 1998 | First North Western |
| ScotRail | Franchise | ScotRail | National Express Group | 1997 | 17 October 2004 | First ScotRail |
| South Eastern Trains | Franchise | South Eastern | Strategic Rail Authority | 9 November 2003 | 1 April 2006 | Southeastern |
| Silverlink (previously known as North London Railways) |
Franchise | North London Railways | National Express Group | 2 March 1997 | 11 November 2007 | Split into London Midland & London Overground |
| Thames Trains | Franchise | Thames | Go-Ahead Group | October 1996 | 1 April 2004 | First Great Western Link |
| Thameslink | Franchise | Thameslink | Govia | 2 March 1997 | 1 April 2006 | First Capital Connect |
| Valley Lines | Franchise | Valley Lines | National Express Group | 1995 | 14 October 2001 | Merged with Wales and Borders |
| Virgin Trains (Cross Country franchise) | Franchise | Cross Country | Virgin Group & Stagecoach Group | 5 January 1997 | 11 November 2007 | CrossCountry, Virgin Trains (West Coast franchise), First TransPennine Express |
| West Anglia Great Northern Railway (West Anglia Main Line and Lea Valley Lines) |
Franchise | West Anglia Great Northern | National Express Group | April 2004 | 1 April 2004 | 'one' (Now National Express East Anglia) |
| West Anglia Great Northern Railway (Great Northern and Fenline routes) |
Franchise | West Anglia Great Northern | National Express Group | April 2004 | 1 April 2006 | First Capital Connect |
| Wales and Borders | Franchise | Wales and Borders | National Express Group | 14 October 2001 | 7 December 2003 | Arriva Trains Wales |
| Wales and West | Franchise | Wales and West | Prism Rail | 1997 | 14 October 2001 | Split into Wales and Borders & Wessex Trains |
| Wessex Trains | Franchise | Wessex | National Express Group | 14 October 2001 | 1 April 2006 | Merged with First Great Western |
| Wrexham & Shropshire | Open-Access | Wrexham to London | DB Regio/Renaissance Trains | 28 April 2008 | 28 January 2011 | Closed by parent due to lack of profitability |
Future operators
- Crossrail, a franchise to be let by TfL managing the cross London Maidenhead/Heathrow to Shenfield/Abbey Wood rail link. It will take over control of its first services from 2014 with the full franchise operating from 2018.
- Renaissance Trains, the owner of Wrexham & Shropshire, has proposed running services to several destinations under a number of brand names:
- Glasgow Trains has proposed to run services between Glasgow to Blackpool, Liverpool and Nottingham.
- Humber Coast & City Railway are planning to run services between Cleethorpes and Lincoln to Stratford, London via Peterborough and Cambridge.
- Alliance Rail
- Go! Cooperative will operate a service between Yeovil and Oxford, via Melksham.
Passenger operators in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland passenger trains are still government-owned, under the auspices of Translink. The following brands are used:
- Northern Ireland Railways - (domestic services)
- Enterprise - (Belfast-Dublin service, jointly operated by Iarnród Éireann)
Railtour operators
- Compass Tours
- DPS Railtours
- Stobart Pullman
- Pathfinder Tours
- Scottish Railway Preservation Society
- Venice-Simplon Orient Express
- Vintage Trains
- Retro Railtours
- Green Express Railtours
- Kingfisher Railtours
In Northern Ireland
- Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
- Irish Traction Group
- The Modern Railway Society of Ireland
Freight operators
- Colas Rail
- Direct Rail Services (incorporating Stobart Rail service)
- DB Schenker Rail (replaced English, Welsh and Scottish Railway)
- Freightliner
- GBRf
- Mendip Rail
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List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.