List of railway companies in the United Kingdom
This list provides an overview of all of the UK railroad companies that were created or retired after the privatization of British Rail in 1994. For former companies, see List of Former Railway Companies in the UK ; for Small and Museum Railways , see List of Small and Museum Railways in the UK .
background
Great Britain
Since the privatization of British Rail, trains on the UK rail network have been operated by numerous private rail companies. The UK Department for Transport regularly advertises regional rail network franchises for which Train Operating Companies (TOC) can apply. Until 2005, the Strategic Rail Authority was responsible for awarding all concessions. In contrast to z. For example, for German local rail passenger transport, the financial risk lies with the TOCs, and apart from a few framework conditions, they can organize the actual operation quite freely.
However, in accordance with the principle of devolution , other institutions (also) are active in their own parts of the country:
- Transport Scotland / Còmhdhail Alba , Department of the Scottish Ministry of Transport, for the ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper franchises in Scotland
- Transport for Wales / Trafnidiaeth Cymru , Welsh Department of Transport organization, for the Wales & Borders franchise in Wales
- West Midlands Rail , sponsored by 16 local authorities, for the West Midlands franchise in the West Midlands
- Merseytravel , the regional transport authority in the greater Liverpool area , for the Merseyrail suburban railways
- Transport for London , regional transport authority in the greater London area , for the Overground and Crossrail suburban trains
- Transport for the North , the Northern England regional transport authority for the Northern and Transpennine Express franchises
In addition, companies can also offer passenger transport services independently ( open access ), but then - unlike some operators of less lucrative franchises - are not entitled to any subsidies . Tracks and signals do not fall under the responsibility of the railway operating companies, but are the task of the infrastructure company Network Rail (successor to Railtrack since 2002 ).
At first glance, it may appear that a large number of companies are operating. In reality, many of these companies are part of larger transport groups such as FirstGroup , Stagecoach or Arriva , which were able to acquire several franchises and operate them under different names. The franchises can unlike in Germany are not operated for organizational reasons by the parent company directly, as to another company employee in a transition of the franchise ( business transfer / Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employees) and ownership are also transferred.
The railway companies that emerged from the break-up of British Rail protect their interests through the Rail Delivery Group (formerly the Association of Train Operating Companies ). Under the brand name National Rail and the logo of the former British Rail, this association organizes a common tariff structure with a uniform range of tickets.
Due to the global corona epidemic, in order to be able to guarantee stable rail operations, the franchise model was suspended on March 23, 2020 and the financial risk and responsibility for rail operations were transferred to the Ministry of Transport.
Northern Ireland
The rail network in Northern Ireland has never been privatized; Northern Ireland Railways (NIR), which operates the entire rail network, is still owned by the state and forms the holding company Translink together with two bus companies . Together with the Irish state railway Iarnród Éireann, NIR operates the cross-border long-distance trains between Belfast and Dublin under the Enterprise brand , and Iarnród Éireann also operates a morning commuter train from Newry in Northern Ireland to Dublin.
An overview of former and existing railway companies in Ireland is provided by the List of Irish Railway Companies .
list
As of March 1, 2020
In operation
Great Britain
| operator | Type | franchise | Parent company (s) | Start of operation | End of operation | predecessor | code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abellio ScotRail | franchise | ScotRail | Abellio | Apr 1, 2015 | 31 Mar 2025 | First ScotRail | SR |
| Avanti West Coast | franchise | West Coast Partnership |
FirstGroup (70%) Trenitalia (30%) |
Dec 8, 2019 | 31 Mar 2031 | Virgin Trains | VT |
| Arriva Rail London | TfL license | London Overground | Arriva | Nov 13, 2016 | May 26, 2024 | London Overground Rail Operations | LO |
| c2c | franchise | Essex Thameside | Trenitalia | May 26, 1996 | Nov 10, 2029 |
Network SouthEast (London, Tilbury & Southend Division) |
CC |
| Chiltern Railways | franchise | Chiltern Railways | Arriva | July 21, 1996 | Dec 21, 2021 | Network SouthEast (Chiltern Division) | CH |
| CrossCountry | franchise | New Cross Country | Arriva | Nov 11, 2007 | Dec 2019 |
Central Trains (Birmingham - Stansted & Cardiff - Nottingham route) Virgin CrossCountry |
XC |
| East Midlands Railway | franchise | East Midlands | Abellio | 18 Aug 2019 | Aug 21, 2027 | East Midlands Trains | EM |
| Eurostar | Open access | - | Eurostar International Limited | Nov 14, 1994 | - | IT | |
| Govia Thameslink Railway (marketed as: Thameslink / Southern / Great Northern / Gatwick Express ) | franchise | Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern |
Govia ( Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%) |
Sep 14 2014 | Sep 2021 | First Capital Connect , Southern | SN, TL, GN, GX |
| Grand Central | Open access | - | Arriva | Dec 18, 2007 | Dec. 2026 | GC | |
| Greater Anglia | franchise | East Anglia |
Abellio (60%) Mitsui (40%) |
Oct 16, 2016 | Oct. 2025 | National Express East Anglia | LE |
| Great Western Railway | franchise | Greater Western | FirstGroup | Apr 1, 2006 | Apr. 2020 |
First Great Western First Great Western Link Wessex Trains |
GW |
| Heathrow Express | Open access | - | Heathrow Airport Holdings | June 23, 1998 | - | HX | |
| Hull Trains | Open access | - | FirstGroup | 25 Sep 2002 | Dec. 2029 | HT | |
| London North Eastern Railway | franchise | InterCity East Coast | temporarily nationalized | June 24, 2018 | 2020 | Virgin Trains East Coast | GR |
| Merseyrail | Merseytravel Concession | Merseyrail |
Serco-Abellio ( Serco 50%, Abellio 50%) |
July 20, 2003 | July 19, 2028 | Arriva Trains Merseyside | ME |
| Northern Trains | franchise | Northern | temporarily nationalized | 1st Mar 2020 | ? | Northern (Arriva) | NT |
| Serco Caledonian Sleepers | franchise | Caledonian Sleeper | Serco | 31 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2030 | First ScotRail | CS |
| Southeastern | franchise | Integrated Kent |
Govia ( Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%) |
Apr 1, 2006 | Dec 9, 2018 | South Eastern Trains | SE |
| South Western Railway | franchise | South Western |
FirstGroup (70%) MTR Corporation (30%) |
20 Aug 2017 | Aug 18, 2024 | South West Trains | SW |
| TfL Rail | TfL license | Crossrail | MTR Corporation | May 31, 2015 | May 30, 2023 |
Greater Anglia (Liverpool Street - Shenfield)
Heathrow Connect Heathrow Express (Heathrow Central - Heathrow T4 shuttle) |
XR |
| TransPennine Express | franchise | TransPennine Express | FirstGroup | April 1, 2016 | 31 Mar 2023 | First TransPennine Express | TP |
| Transport for Wales / Trafnidiaeth Cymru | franchise | Wales & Borders | Keolis , Amey | Oct 14, 2018 | Oct 15, 2033 | Arriva Trains Wales | AW |
|
West Midlands Trains (marketed as: London Northwestern Railway / West Midlands Railway ) |
franchise | West Midlands |
Abellio (70%) JR East (15%) Mitsui (15%) |
Dec 10, 2017 | Apr. 2026 | London Midland | LM |
Northern Ireland
| operator | Type | Routes | Remarks | Parent company (s) | Start of operation | End of operation | predecessor | code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iarnród Éireann | state | Dublin - Newry | The commuter train goes to Dublin in the morning and back to Newry in the evening |
Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) | - | |||
| Northern Ireland Railways | state |
Belfast - Bangor Belfast- Derry Belfast- Larne Belfast Newry Coleraine - Portrush |
Translink | 1967 | - | Ulster Transport Authority | (NIR) | |
|
Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann (marketed as: Enterprise ) |
state | Belfast – Dublin | Aug 11, 1947 | - |
Former
A number of railway operating companies have ceased to exist for various reasons: early surrender of the concession, expiry of the concession without renewal, bankruptcy or merger with another company. Only companies dissolved after privatization are taken into account here.
| operator | Type | franchise | Parent company (s) | Start of operation | End of operation | replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia Railways | franchise | Anglia | GB Railways | Jan. 5, 1997 | 31 Mar 2004 | One |
|
Arriva Trains Merseyside |
Merseytravel Concession | Merseyrail | Arriva | Feb. 2000 | July 20, 2003 | Merseyrail |
| Arriva Trains Northern | franchise | Regional Railways North East | Arriva | Feb. 2000 | Dec 12, 2004 |
First TransPennine Express Northern Rail |
| Arriva Trains Wales | franchise | Wales & Borders | Arriva | Dec 8, 2003 | Oct 13, 2018 | Transport for Wales / Trafnidiaeth Cymru |
| Central Trains | franchise | Central | National Express | 2nd Mar 1997 | Nov 11, 2007 |
CrossCountry East Midlands Trains London Midland |
| Connex South Central | franchise | Network SouthCentral | Connex | Oct 13, 1996 | June 16, 2001 | Southern |
| Connex South Eastern | franchise | South Eastern | Connex | May 26, 1996 | Nov 9, 2003 | South Eastern Trains |
| East coast | franchise | InterCity East Coast | temporarily nationalized | Nov 14, 2009 | Feb 28, 2015 | Virgin Trains East Coast |
| East Midlands Trains | franchise | East Midlands | Stagecoach | Nov 11, 2007 | 17th Aug 2019 | East Midlands Railway |
| First Capital Connect | franchise | Thameslink Great Northern | FirstGroup | Apr 1, 2006 | 13 Sep 2014 | Thameslink and Great Northern |
| First Great Eastern | franchise | Great Eastern | FirstGroup | Jan. 5, 1997 | 31 Mar 2004 | One |
| First great western | franchise | Great Western | FirstGroup | March 1998 | 31 Mar 2006 | First great western |
| First Great Western Link | franchise | Thames | FirstGroup | Apr 1, 2004 | 31 Mar 2006 | First great western |
| First North Western | franchise | North West Regional Railways | FirstGroup | 2nd Mar 1997 | Dec 12, 2004 |
Arriva Trains Wales First TransPennine Express Northern Rail |
| First ScotRail | franchise | ScotRail | FirstGroup | Oct 17, 2004 | 31 Mar 2015 | Abellio ScotRail |
| First TransPennine Express | franchise | TransPennine Express |
FirstGroup (55%) Keolis (45%) |
Feb. 1, 2004 | 31 Mar 2016 | TransPennine Express |
| Gatwick Express | franchise | Gatwick Express | National Express | Apr 28, 1996 | June 22, 2008 | Southern |
| Great North Eastern Railway | franchise | InterCity East Coast | Sea Containers | Apr 28, 1996 | Dec 8, 2007 | National Express East Coast |
| Great Western Trains | franchise | Great Western | Great Western Holdings | Feb. 4, 1996 | March 1998 | First great western |
| Heathrow Connect | Open Access | - | Heathrow Airport Holdings , FirstGroup | June 12, 2005 | 19th May 2018 | TfL Rail |
| Island Line | franchise | Island Line | Stagecoach | Oct 13, 1996 | Feb 3, 2007 | South West Trains |
| London Midland | franchise | West Midlands |
Govia ( Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%) |
Nov 11, 2007 | Dec 9, 2017 | West Midlands Trains |
| London Overground Rail Operations | TfL license | London Overground |
Arriva (50%) MTR Corporation (50%) |
Nov 11, 2007 | Nov 12, 2016 | Arriva Rail London |
| Merseyrail Electrics | Merseytravel Concession | Merseyrail | MTL | Jan. 19, 1997 | Feb. 2000 | Arriva Trains Merseyside |
| Midland Mainline | franchise | Midland Main Line | National Express | Feb. 28, 1996 | Nov 11, 2007 | East Midlands Trains |
| National Express East Anglia (Temporarily Marketed as: One) | franchise | East Anglia | National Express | Apr 1, 2004 | Feb 5, 2012 | Greater Anglia |
| National Express East Coast | franchise | InterCity East Coast | National Express | Dec 9, 2007 | Nov 13, 2009 | East coast |
| Northern | franchise | Northern | Arriva | April 1, 2016 | Feb 29, 2020 | Northern Trains |
| Northern Rail | franchise | Northern |
Serco-Abellio ( Serco 50%, Abellio 50%) |
Dec 12, 2004 | 31 Mar 2016 | Northern |
| Northern Spirit | franchise | Regional Railways North East | MTL | 2nd Mar 1997 | Feb. 2000 | Arriva Trains Northern |
| North Western Trains | franchise | North West Regional Railways | Great Western Holdings | 2nd Mar 1997 | March 1998 | First North Western |
| ScotRail (National Express) | franchise | ScotRail | National Express | 31 Mar 1997 | Oct 17, 2004 | First ScotRail |
| Silver link | franchise | North London Railways | National Express | 2nd Mar 1997 | Nov 11, 2007 |
London Midland London Overground Rail Operations |
| South Eastern Trains | franchise | South Eastern | temporarily nationalized | Nov 9, 2003 | 31 Mar 2006 | Southeastern |
| South West Trains | franchise | South Western | Stagecoach | Feb. 4, 1996 | 19 Aug 2017 | South Western Railway |
| Southern | franchise | South Central |
Govia ( Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%) |
Aug 26, 2001 | July 25, 2015 | Connex South Central |
| Thames Trains | franchise | Thames | Go-Ahead Group | Oct 13, 1996 | 31 Mar 2004 | First Great Western Link |
| Thameslink | franchise | Thameslink |
Govia ( Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%) |
2nd Mar 1997 | 31 Mar 2006 | First Capital Connect |
| Valley Lines | franchise | Valley Lines | National Express | Oct 13, 1996 | Oct 13, 2001 | Wales & Borders |
| Virgin Trains | franchise | InterCity West Coast |
Virgin Rail Group ( Virgin 51%, Stagecoach 49%) |
9 Mar 1997 | 7th Dec 2019 | Avanti West Coast |
| Virgin Trains East Coast | franchise | InterCity East Coast |
Virgin Group (10%) Stagecoach (90%) |
1st Mar 2015 | June 23, 2018 | London North Eastern Railway |
| Virgin CrossCountry | franchise | CrossCountry |
Virgin Rail Group ( Virgin 51%, Stagecoach 49%) |
Jan. 5, 1997 | Nov 11, 2007 |
CrossCountry First TransPennine Express Virgin Trains West Coast |
|
West Anglia Great Northern (West Anglia Main Line and Lea Valley Lines) |
franchise | West Anglia Great Northern | National Express | Jan. 5, 1997 | 31 Mar 2004 | One |
|
West Anglia Great Northern (Great Northern and Fenline routes) |
franchise | West Anglia Great Northern | National Express | Jan. 5, 1997 | 31 Mar 2006 | First Capital Connect |
| Wales & Borders | franchise | Wales & Borders | National Express | Oct 14, 2001 | Dec 7, 2003 | Arriva Trains Wales |
| Wales & West | franchise | Wales & West | National Express | Oct 13, 1996 | Oct 13, 2001 |
Wales & Borders Wessex Trains |
| Wessex Trains | franchise | Wessex | National Express | Oct 14, 2001 | 31 Mar 2006 | First great western |
| Wrexham & Shropshire | Open access | - | DB Regio | Apr 28, 2008 | Jan. 28, 2011 | Hiring by DB Regio due to poor economic performance |
Trams
| city | Company name | operator | owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | West Midlands Metro | Midland Metro Ltd. | Transport for West Midlands |
| Blackpool | Blackpool Tram | Blackpool Transport | Blackpool Council |
| Brighton | Volk's Electric Railway | City of Brighton and Hove | City of Brighton and Hove |
| Douglas | Manx Electric Railway | Isle of Man Heritage Railways | Isle of Man transport |
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh trams | Edinburgh Trams Ltd. | Transport for Edinburgh |
| London | Tramlink | Tram Operations Ltd. (Subsidiary of the FirstGroup ) |
London Trams a part of Transport for London |
| Manchester | Manchester Metrolink | KeolisAmey ( Keolis 60%, Amey 40%) | Transport for Greater Manchester |
| Nottingham | Nottingham Express Transit | Nottingham Trams Ltd. | Tramlink Nottingham |
| Sheffield | Sheffield Supertram | Stagecoach Supertram | South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive |
Subways
| city | Company name | operator | owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | Glasgow Subway | Strathclyde Partnership for Transport | Transport Scotland |
| London | London Underground | London Underground Ltd. | Transport for London |
| Docklands Light Railway | KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd. | Docklands Light Railway Ltd. part of Transport for London |
|
| Newcastle | Tyne and Wear Metro | Nexus | Nexus |
Freight transport
- Colas Rail
- DB Cargo UK
- Devon and Cornwall Railways
- Direct Rail Services
- Europorte
- Freightliner
- GB Railfreight
- Harsco
See also
Web links
- Map of the British route network with the individual companies (as of February 2007) (PDF file) ( Memento from September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) (217 kB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Government Ensures ticket refunds and protects services for passengers with rail emergency measures. Department for Transport, The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, March 23, 2020, accessed on March 23, 2020 (English): “The Department for Transport will temporarily suspend normal franchise agreements and transfer all revenue and cost risk to the government for a limited period, initially 6 months. Operators will continue to run services day-to-day for a small predetermined management fee. "
- ↑ Arriva wins £ 1.5bn London Overground contract BBC News , March 18, 2016
- ^ Transport for London announces intention to award London Overground contract to Arriva Arriva, March 18, 2016
- ^ TfL confirm London Overground contract with Arriva signed Railway Technology Magazine , April 18, 2016
- ↑ a b c Archived copy . Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Rail franchise schedule . Department of Transport. July 19, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- ↑ 10-year contract extension . In: grandcentralrail.com .
- ^ Railway plan puts a new focus on passengers . Department for Transport. March 26, 2013.
- ↑ £ 60m Hull Trains electro-diesel train deal signed Railway Gazette International , November 2, 2016
- ^ Transport for London: Media . In: tfl.gov.uk .
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533363/swf-itt.pdf
- ^ Stagecoach to lose East Coast Mainline rail franchise , BBC News. 5th February 2018.