Passenger, freight and track services
This page provides more information about the companies that serve the length and breadth of the UK rail network.
- Train operating companies - the companies that operate passenger rail services
- Owning groups - the companies that fully or jointly own the passenger rail companies
- Freight operating companies - the companies that transport goods by rail
- Track and infrastructure company - the companies that manages the rail track and signalling systems
- Other rail industry links - for related rail supply chain, government and European links
If you work in rail, or want to, have a look at the Working in rail section.
Note: RDG is not responsible for the content or appearance of any linked site and cannot be held liable for information posted onto any other site.
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Train operating companies
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Arriva Trains WalesArriva Trains Wales operates a mix of long distance, regional and local rural services in Wales, including the Valley Lines network of services around Cardiff, and also in the English border counties and to Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. Arriva Trains Wales route map Website: http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/ Company details: Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru Limited 04337645
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c2cc2c operates an intensive, mainly commuter, service into London Fenchurch Street from south east Essex. c2c route map Website: http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/ Company details: c2c Rail Limited
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Caledonian SleeperThe Caledonian Sleeper Highland route runs to Fort William, Inverness, and Aberdeen. The Caledonian Sleeper Lowland route runs from London Euston to Glasgow Central or Edinburgh Waverley. Caledonian Sleeper route map Website: https://www.sleeper.scot/ Company details: Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited SC477821
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Chiltern RailwaysChiltern Railways operates passenger train services throughout the M40 corridor between Birmingham and London. Their passengers are a mix of commuters, business and leisure travellers. Chiltern Railways route map Website: https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/ Company details: The Chiltern Railway Company Limited 03007939
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CrossCountryCrossCountry operates a network of long distance services between Scotland and the North East England through to the South West of England and Bournemouth. Services also operate between Birmingham, Leicester and Stansted Airport, Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham. CrossCountry route map Website: https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/ Company details: XC Trains Limited 04402048
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East Midlands TrainsEast Midlands Trains operates train services between London, the East Midlands and Yorkshire (Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds) and central England services groups linking Nottingham, Derby, Worksop, Lincoln, Cleethorpes, Skegness, Leicester and Cambridge. East Midlands Trains route map Website: http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/ Company details: East Midlands Trains Limited 05340682
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EurostarEurostar operates high speed international train services between London, Brussels, Paris (centre and Disneyland Paris), the Alps and Rhone Valley. Eurostar route map Website: http://www.eurostar.com/ Owning group: Eurostar International Ltd
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Gatwick ExpressGatwick Express is operated by Southern Railways and runs non-stop between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria every 15 minutes. Gatwick Express route map Website: http://www.gatwickexpress.com/ Company details: Govia Thameslink Railway Limited 07934306
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Grand CentralGrand Central is an open access operator which provides direct high speed train services between London Kings Cross and Sunderland. Grand Central route map Website: https://www.grandcentralrail.com/ Owning group: Arriva UK Trains (owned by Deutsche Bahn)
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Greater AngliaGreater Anglia operates mainline trains between London, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich, as well as local trains across Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Greater Anglia route map Website: https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/ Company details: Abellio East Anglia Limited 07861414
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Great NorthernGreat Northern operates train services between London King's Cross and Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn; and services between Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage and Letchworth Garden City. Great Northern route map Website: http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/ Company details: Govia Thameslink Railway Limited 07934306
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Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway operates high-speed train services between London Paddington, South Wales, the Cotswolds and the West Country. Great Western Railway route map Website: https://www.gwr.com/ Company details: First Greater Western Limited 05113733
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Heathrow ExpressHeathrow Express operates dedicated high speed services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Express route map Website: https://www.heathrowexpress.com/ Owning group: Heathrow Express
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Hull TrainsHull Trains is a open access operator and provides a limited number of through trains between London Kings Cross and Hull. Hull Trains route map Website: http://www.hulltrains.co.uk/ Owning group: FirstGroup
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London Northwestern RailwayLondon Northwestern Railway operates express services between London Euston, Milton Keynes and Birmingham New Street (via Northampton). London Northwestern Railway route map Website: https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/ Company details: West Midlands Trains Limited 09860466
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London OvergroundLondon Overground operates services between Richmond and Stratford via Willesden Junction, together with the Willesden Junction/Clapham Junction and Gospel Oak/Barking lines. London Overground route map Website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-overground/ Company details: Arriva Rail London Limited 04165861
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MerseyrailMerseyrail provides services between Liverpool and Southport, Ormskirk, Kirby, Hunts Cross, New Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. Merseyrail route map Website: http://www.merseyrail.org/ Company details: Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Limited 04356933
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NorthernNorthern operates a range of inter-urban, commuter and rural services throughout the North of England. Northern route map Website: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/ Company details: Arriva Rail North Limited 04337712
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ScotRailScotRail provides 95% of all passenger rail services within Scotland and has services to Carlisle and Newcastle. ScotRail route map Website: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/ Company details: Abellio ScotRail Limited SC450732
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SoutheasternSoutheastern operates all the services in the south east London suburbs, the whole of Kent and part of Sussex, which are primarily commuter services to/from central London. Southeastern route map Website: http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/ Company details: London & South Eastern Railway Limited 04860660
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SouthernSouthern operates predominantly commuter services between London, Surrey and Sussex, as well as services to Gatwick and Brighton, and South Coast services. Southern route map Website: http://www.southernrailway.com/ Company details: Govia Thameslink Railway Limited 07934306
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South Western RailwaySouth Western Railway operates trains from London Waterloo to Woking, Basingstoke, Southampton, Portsmouth, Exeter, Reading, Bournemouth. South Western Railway route map Website: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/ Company details: First MTR South Western Trains Limited
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TfL RailTfL Rail runs the East Anglian metro service into London, covering Ilford, Romford and Shenfield. TfL Rail route map Website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/tfl-rail/ Owning group: MTR on behalf of TfL
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ThameslinkThameslink operates train services between Bedford and Brighton; and the Luton, St Albans, Sutton and Wimbledon loop. Thameslink route map Website: http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/ Company details: Govia Thameslink Railway Limited 07934306
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TransPennine ExpressTransPennine Express operates predominantly long distance inter-urban services linking major centres of population across both North East and North West England. TransPennine Express route map Website: http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/ Company details: Transpennine Express Limited 04661194
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Virgin TrainsVirgin Trains operates services between Glasgow, North West England, North Wales, the West Midlands and London, and also between Birmingham and Glasgow/ Edinburgh. Virgin Trains route map Website: https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/ Company details: West Coast Trains Limited 03007940
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Virgin Trains East CoastVirgin Trains East Coast operates long distance train services along the East Coast Main Line, linking London King's Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, North East England and Scotland. Virgin Trains East Coast route map Website: https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/ Company details: East Coast Main Line Company Limited 04659708
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West Midlands RailwayWest Midlands Railway operates local metro services in the Birmingham and wider west Midlands area. West Midlands Railway route map Website: https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/ Company details: West Midlands Trains Limited 09860466
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Owning groups |
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Abellio (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)Wholly owned:
Part ownership:
Website: https://www.abellio.com/ |
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Arriva UK Trains (Deutsche Bahn)Wholly owned:
Website: http://www.arriva.co.uk/countries/uk |
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FirstGroupWholly owned:
Part ownership:
Website: http://www.firstgroupplc.com/ |
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Go-Ahead GroupPart ownership:
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KeolisPart ownership:
Website: http://www.keolis.co.uk/ |
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Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company partnershipPart ownership:
Websites: Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company |
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MTR CorporationWholly owned:
Part ownership:
Website: http://www.mtreurope.com/ |
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SercoWholly owned:
Part ownership:
Website: https://www.serco.com/ |
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Stagecoach GroupWholly owned:
Part ownership:
Website: http://www.stagecoachplc.com/ |
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TrenitaliaWholly owned:
Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en |
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Virgin GroupPart ownership:
Website: https://www.virgin.com/ |
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Freight operating companies |
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Colas RailWebsite: http://www.colasrail.co.uk/ |
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DB Cargo UK |
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Direct Rail ServicesWebsite: http://www.directrailservices.com/ |
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FreightlinerWebsite: http://www.freightliner.co.uk/ |
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GB RailfreightWebsite: http://www.gbrailfreight.com/ |
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Track and infrastructure services |
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HS2 - high speed railWebsite: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/high-speed-two-limited |
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Network RailWebsite: http://www.networkrail.co.uk |
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Other rail industry links
- Crossrail
- Department for Transport
- European Union transport bodies
- European Union transport policy
- Freight operators
- HS2
- Network Rail
- Office of Rail and Road
- Owning groups of UK passenger rail services
- Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety
- Passenger rail services franchise holders
- Rail Accident Investigation Branch
- Rail Freight Group
- Rail Supply Group
- Railway Industry Association
- Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme
- RGSonline
- RRUKA (Rail Research Association UK)
- RSSB (Rail Safety & Standards Board)
- Transport for London
- Transport Select Committee