Passenger train services in Great Britain are operated by a number of companies, normally on the basis of regional franchises awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority. The infrastructure of the railways in England, Scotland, and Wales -- including tracks, signalling, and stations -- is owned and operated not by the train companies but by Network Rail, which took over responsibility from Railtrack in 2002.
All but one of the train operating companies in Great Britain are privately owned. The exception is South Eastern Trains, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), which took over from Connex in 2003. The SRA hopes to award the franchise to a private operator in 2005.
In Northern Ireland, where services were never privatised, Northern Ireland Railways -- a subsidiary of the government-owned public transport holding company Translink -- provides train services.
A number of metropolitan railways - such as in Merseyside and Tyneside - are operated on the basis of contracts between private operators and regional transport authorities.
At first glance it may look as if a large number of companies are involved in the UK's rail system. However, many of the train operating companies are in fact parts of larger companies which operate multiple franchises. The biggest are National Express Group, First Group, Virgin Trains and Arriva.
The Association of Train Operating Companies is the coordinating body of the train operating companies.
Train operators include:
Current passenger operators
There are also several heritage lines and light rail systems.
Current passenger operators by parent company
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.
Last updated: 08-22-2005 18:42:09
Last updated: 08-24-2005 21:45:46
