There are many companies operating trains in the United Kingdom, including the operators of franchised and state-owned passenger services, officially referred to as train operating companies (TOCs, except in Northern Ireland), as distinct from freight operating companies.
Passenger operators in Great Britain Current operators OperatorTypeFranchise / contract / concessionParent(s) Start dateReplacedCodeAvanti West CoastContract West Coast PartnershipVirgin TrainsVTc2cState-owned operatorEssex ThamesideDfT Operatorc2c (Trenitalia)CCCaledonian SleeperCaledonian SleeperScottish Rail HoldingsCaledonian Sleeper (Serco)CSChiltern RailwaysChilternDfT OperatorChiltern Railways (Arriva UK Trains)CHCrossCountryContractNew CrossCountryArriva UK TrainsCentral Trains(Birmingham – Stansted), (Cardiff – Nottingham)Virgin CrossCountryXCEast Midlands RailwayEast MidlandsTransport UK GroupEMElizabeth lineTfL concessionElizabeth lineGTS Rail OperationsXREurostarOpen accessEurostar GroupESFirst Rail LondonTfL concessionLondon OvergroundFirstGroupArriva Rail LondonLOGrand CentralIn May 2010 Grand Northern services began, branded Grand Central to allow a single fleet pool to be used.Open accessArriva UK TrainsGCGreat Western RailwayContractGreater WesternFirstGroupGWGreater Anglia (also operating Stansted Express)State-owned operatorEast Anglia DfT OperatorGreater Anglia (Transport UK Group, Mitsui)LEGreater Thameslink Railway (Trading as: Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink)Thameslink, Southern & Great NorthernDfT OperatorGovia Thameslink RailwaySN, TL, GN, GXHeathrow ExpressOpen accessHeathrow Airport HoldingsHXHull TrainsFirstGroupHTState-owned operatorInterCity East CoastDfT OperatorVirgin Trains East CoastGRLumoOpen accessFirstGroupLDMerseyrailMerseytravel concessionMerseyrailMerseyrail Electrics 2002Arriva Trains MerseysideMENorthern TrainsState-owned operatorNorthernDfT OperatorArriva Rail NorthNTScotRailScotRailScottish Rail HoldingsAbellio ScotRailSRSoutheasternSouth EasternDfT OperatorSoutheastern (Govia)SESouth Western Railway (also operating Island Line)South WesternDfT OperatorSouth Western Railway (First MTR)SW, ILTransPennine ExpressTransPennine ExpressDfT OperatorTransPennine Express (FirstGroup)TPTransport for Wales RailWales & BordersTransport for WalesKeolisAmey WalesAWWest Midlands Trains (Trading as: West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway)West MidlandsDfT OperatorWest Midlands Trains (Transport UK Group, JR East, Mitsui)LM
There are also a number of light rail systems.
Future operators Future operating companies that have been announced by the Department for Transport. These will be the first nationalised operators to take over passenger services since the passing of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, which makes state ownership the default option for passenger services. OperatorTypeContractParentDate commencingReplacingCodeGreat Western RailwayState-owned operatorGreater WesternDfT Operator13 December 2026Dates operators will transfer to DfT Rail Express issue 360 May 2026 page 10Great Western RailwayGW
Defunct operators 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 / contract / concessionParent(s) Date started Date ceasedReplaced byCodeAbellio ScotRailFranchiseScotRailAbellioScotRail (Scottish Government)SRAnglia RailwaysAngliaGB RailwaysOneARArriva Trains WalesWales & BordersArriva UK TrainsKeolisAmey WalesAWArriva Trains MerseysideMerseyrail ElectricsMerseyrail Electrics 2002MEArriva Trains Northern Regional Railways North EastANArriva Rail NorthNorthernNorthern TrainsNTArriva Rail London (Trading as: London Overground)TfL concessionLondon OvergroundArriva wins £1.5bn London Overground contract BBC News 18 March 2016Transport for London announces intention to award London Overground contract to Arriva Arriva 18 March 2016TfL confirm London Overground contract with Arriva signed Railway Technology Magazine 18 April 20162 May 2026First Rail LondonLOCaledonian Sleeper (Serco)FranchiseCaledonian SleeperSercoCaledonian Sleeper(Scottish Rail Holdings)CSc2cEssex ThamesideTrenitaliac2cCCCentral TrainsCentralNational Express GroupCTChiltern RailwaysChilternArriva UK TrainsChiltern RailwaysCHConnex South CentralNetwork SouthCentralConnexConnex South CentralCXConnex South CentralSouth CentralSouth CentralConnex South EasternSouth EasternSouth Eastern TrainsEast CoastInterCity East CoastDirectly Operated RailwaysVirgin Trains East CoastGREast Midlands TrainsEast MidlandsStagecoachEast Midlands RailwayEMFirst Capital ConnectThameslink and Great NorthernFirstGroupGovia Thameslink RailwayFCFirst Great EasternGreat EasternFirstGroupNational Express East AngliaGEFirst Great Western LinkThamesFirstGroupFirst Great WesternFKFirst North WesternNorth West Regional RailwaysFirstGroupNWFirst ScotRailScotRailFirstGroupAbellio ScotRailSRFirst TransPennine ExpressTransPennine ExpressTransPennine ExpressTPGatwick ExpressGatwick ExpressNational Express GroupSouthernGX Govia Thameslink RailwayThameslink, Southern and Great NorthernGovia Greater Thameslink Railway GN, GX, SN, TLGreat North Eastern RailwayInterCity East CoastSea ContainersNational Express East CoastGRGreater AngliaEast AngliaTransport UK Group (60%)Mitsui & Co (40%)Greater AngliaLEGreat Western TrainsGreat WesternGreat Western HoldingsFirst Great WesternGWHeathrow ConnectOpen Access—Heathrow Airport Holdings, FirstGroupTfL RailHCIsland LineFranchiseIsland LineStagecoachSouth West TrainsILLondon MidlandWest MidlandsGoviaWest Midlands TrainsLMLondon Overground Rail OperationsTfL concessionLondon OvergroundArriva Rail LondonLOMerseyrail ElectricsFranchiseMerseyrail ElectricsMTLArriva Trains MerseysideMEMidland MainlineMidland Main LineNational Express GroupEast Midlands TrainsMLNational Express East AngliaGreater AngliaGreater AngliaLENational Express East CoastInterCity East CoastEast CoastGRNorthern RailNorthern RailSerco (50%)Abellio (50%)Arriva Rail NorthNTNorthern SpiritRegional Railways North EastMTLArriva Trains NorthernNSNorth Western TrainsNorth West Regional RailwaysGreat Western HoldingsFirst North WesternNWScotRailScotRailNational Express GroupFirst ScotRailSRSilverlinkNorth London RailwaysSSSoutheasternIntegrated KentGoviaSoutheasternSESouth Eastern TrainsSouth EasternStrategic Rail AuthoritySoutheasternSESouth Western RailwaySouth WesternFirstGroup (70%)MTR Corporation (30%) South Western RailwaySWSouth West TrainsSouth WesternStagecoachhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533363/swf-itt.pdf South Western RailwaySWSouthernSouth CentralGoviaGovia Thameslink RailwaySNThames TrainsThamesGo-Ahead GroupFirst Great Western LinkTTThameslinkThameslinkGoviaFirst Capital ConnectTRTransPennine ExpressTransPennine ExpressFirstGroupTransPennine ExpressTPKeolisAmey WalesWales & BordersKeolisAmeyTransport for Wales RailAWValley LinesValley LinesNational Express GroupWales & BordersVLVirgin Trains East CoastInterCity East CoastLondon North Eastern RailwayGRVirgin CrossCountryCrossCountryVirgin Rail GroupVXCVirgin TrainsInterCity West CoastAvanti West CoastVTWest Anglia Great Northern (West Anglia Main Line and Lea Valley Lines)West Anglia Great NorthernNational Express GroupOneWNWest Anglia Great Northern (Great Northern and Fen Line routes)West Anglia Great NorthernNational Express GroupFirst Capital ConnectWales & BordersWales & BordersNational Express GroupArriva Trains WalesWBWales & WestWales & WestNational Express GroupWWWest Midlands Trains West MidlandsWest Midlands TrainsLMWessex TrainsWessexNational Express GroupFirst Great WesternWEWrexham & ShropshireOpen accessWrexham to LondonDB RegioCeased due to lack of profitabilityWS
Passenger operators in Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, passenger trains are NI/Ireland government-owned by Translink or the National Transport Authority. The following brands are used:
Northern Ireland Railways Enterprise service from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central on the Belfast-Dublin line joint venture between Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann.
Railtour operators
125 Group Belmond British Pullman Branch Line Society Fox & Edwards Hastings Diesels Ltd. Locomotive Services Limited (including Steam Dreams, InterCity, Blue Pullman, Saphos Trains, and Statesman Rail) Railway Touring Company Retro Railtours Saltburn Railtours Scottish Railway Preservation Society UK Railtours Vintage Trains West Coast Railways (including The Jacobite and Northern Belle)
Luxury railtours Belmond Royal Scotsman Belmond Britannic Explorer
In Northern Ireland Enthusiast railtours Railway Preservation Society of Ireland Irish Railway Record Society The Modern Railway Society of Ireland
Defunct Belmond Grand Hibernian Blue Pullman (Cotswold Rail) Compass Tours Hertfordshire Railtours Kingfisher Railtours NENTA Pathfinder Tours Stobart Pullman
Freight and spot-hire operators in Great Britain Balfour Beatty Colas Rail DCRail Direct Rail Services DB Cargo UK Europhoenix Rail Freightliner GB Railfreight Hanson & Hall Heavy Haul Rail Loram UK Mendip Rail RailAdventure Rail Operations Group Varamis Rail
Franchised passenger operator structure in Great Britain Sector of British RailFranchisePre-grouping companyOriginal privatised operatorCurrent operator(s)InterCityCaledonian SleeperN/AScotRailCaledonian SleeperEast MidlandsMidland RailwayMidland MainlineEast Midlands RailwayGreater WesternGreat Western RailwayGreat Western TrainsGreat Western RailwayInterCity East CoastGreat Northern RailwayGreat North Eastern RailwayLondon North Eastern RailwayNew CrossCountryN/AVirgin CrossCountryCrossCountryWest Coast PartnershipLondon & North Western RailwayVirgin TrainsAvanti West CoastNetwork SouthEastChilternGreat Central RailwayChiltern RailwaysEast AngliaGreat Eastern RailwayAnglia RailwaysGreater AngliaEssex ThamesideLondon, Tilbury & Southend RailwayLTS Railc2cSouth EasternSouth Eastern & Chatham RailwayConnex South EasternSoutheasternSouth WesternLondon & South Western RailwaySouth West TrainsSouth Western RailwayThameslink, Southern & Great NorthernLondon, Brighton & South Coast RailwayThameslinkConnex South CentralWest Anglia Great Northern(Great Northern and Fenline routes)ThameslinkSouthernGreat Northern(Greater Thameslink Railway)West MidlandsN/ACentral TrainsWest Midlands RailwayLondon Northwestern Railway(West Midlands Trains)Regional RailwaysWales & BordersPredominantly London & North Western RailwayWales & BordersTransport for Wales RailTransPennine ExpressNorth Western TrainsTransPennine ExpressNorthernNorthern SpiritNorthern TrainsScotRailCaledonian Railway, Glasgow & South Western Railway,Great North of Scotland Railway, Highland Railway andNorth British RailwayScotRailScotRail
See also Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain (for detailed information about the history of each franchise)
References
External links List of Train Operating Companies on the National Rail website Map of Train Operating Companies on the National Rail website Barry Doe's colour-coded map showing operator(s) on each route (Large PDF)