Passenger, freight and track services

Passenger, Freight & 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 Ways into 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.

Train operating companies

Rail network maps - maps showing all UK passenger rail routes (National Rail Enquiries website)
National rail passenger operators’ map - map showing all current operators and their lines (copyright barrydoe.co.uk)
Rail franchise schedule - dates of the forthcoming rail franchises (Government website)
Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast operates services between Glasgow, North West England, North Wales, the West Midlands and London, and also between Birmingham and Glasgow/Edinburgh. Avanti West Coast route map

Website: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/

Company details: First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Limited 10349442
Owning group: Partnership of First Group and Trenitalia
Franchise dates: December 2019 to March 2031
c2c

c2c 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
Owning group: Trenitalia
Franchise dates: September 2014 to November 2029
Caledonian Sleeper

The 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
Owning group: Serco
Franchise dates: April 2015 to March 2030
Chiltern Railways

Chiltern 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
Owning group: Arriva UK Trains (owned by Deutsche Bahn)
Franchise dates: March 2002 to December 2021
CrossCountry

CrossCountry 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
Owning group: Arriva UK Trains (owned by Deutsche Bahn)
Franchise dates: November 2007 to October 2020
East Midlands Railway

East Midlands Railway 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 Railway route map

Website: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/

Company details: Abellio East Midlands Limited 09860485
Owning group: Abellio
Franchise dates: August 2019 to August 2027
Elizabeth line

The Elizabeth line (formerly TfL Rail / Crossrail) runs from Reading and Heathrow Airport, through London Paddington and Liverpool Street, to Shenfield. Elizabeth line route map

Website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/elizabeth-line/

Owning group: MTR on behalf of TfL
Franchise dates: June 2015 to May 2023
Eurostar

Eurostar 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
Franchise dates: not applicable
Gatwick Express

Gatwick 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
Owning group: Partnership of Keolis and Go-Ahead Group (Govia)
Franchise dates: September 2014 to September 2021
Grand Central

Grand Central is an open access operator which provides direct services London Kings Cross to York and the North East, and to Doncaster and West Yorkshire. Grand Central route map

Website: https://www.grandcentralrail.com/

Owning group: Arriva UK Trains (owned by Deutsche Bahn)
Franchise dates: December 2007 to December 2026
Greater Anglia

Greater 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
Owning group: Partnership of Abellio and Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company
Franchise dates: October 2016 to October 2025
Great Northern

Great 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
Owning group: Partnership of Keolis and Go-Ahead Group (Govia)
Franchise dates: September 2014 to September 2021
Great Western Railway

Great 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
Owning group: FirstGroup
Franchise dates: April 2006 to March 2020
Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express is operated by Great Western Railway and runs dedicated high speed services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Express route map

Website: https://www.heathrowexpress.com/

Company details: First Greater Western Limited 05113733
Owning group: FirstGroup
Franchise dates: not applicable
Hull Trains

Hull 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
Franchise dates: September 2000 to December 2032
London North Eastern Railway

London North Eastern Railway 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. London North Eastern Railway route map

Website: https://www.lner.co.uk/

Company details: London North Eastern Railway Limited 04659712
Owning group: DfT OLR Holdings
Franchise dates: June 2018 to March 2025
London Northwestern Railway

London 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
Owning group: Partnership of Abellio and Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company
Franchise dates: December 2017 to March 2026
London Overground

London Overground is a group of six routes serving the capital, including Richmond, Clapham Junction, Watford Junction, Gospel Oak, Barking, New Cross, Crystal Palace, West Croydon, Enfield Town, Cheshunt, Chingford and Upminster. London Overground route map

Website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-overground/

Company details: Arriva Rail London Limited 04165861
Owning group: Arriva UK Trains (owned by Deutsche Bahn) on behalf of TfL
Franchise dates: November 2016 to May 2024
Merseyrail

Merseyrail 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
Owning group: Partnership of Abellio and Serco
Franchise dates: July 2003 to July 2028
Northern

Northern 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: Northern Trains Limited 03076444
Owning group: DfT OLR Holdings
Franchise dates: April 2016 to April 2025
ScotRail

ScotRail 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: ScotRail Trains Limited
Owning group: Scottish Rail Holdings
Franchise dates: From April 2022
Southeastern

Southeastern 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
Owning group: DfT OLR Holdings
Franchise dates: October 2021 to October 2024
Southern

Southern 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
Owning group: Partnership of Keolis and Go-Ahead Group (Govia)
Franchise dates: July 2015 to September 2021
South Western Railway

South 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
Owning group: Partnership of FirstGroup and MTR
Franchise dates: June 2017 to August 2024
Stansted Express

Stansted Express is operated by Greater Anglia and runs every 15 minutes between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street. Stansted Express route map

Website: https://www.stanstedexpress.com/

Company details: Abellio East Anglia Limited 07861414
Owning group: Partnership of Abellio and Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company
Franchise dates: October 2016 to October 2025
Thameslink

Thameslink 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
Owning group: Partnership of Keolis and Go-Ahead Group (Govia)
Franchise dates: September 2014 to September 2021
TransPennine Express

TransPennine 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
Owning group: FirstGroup
Franchise dates: April 2016 to March 2023
Transport for Wales Rail / Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau

Transport for Wales Rail 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. Transport for Wales Rail route map

Website: https://tfwrail.wales/

Company details: Transport for Wales Rail Limited 12619906
Owning group: Transport for Wales
Franchise dates: October 2018 to October 2033
West Midlands Railway

West 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
Owning group: Partnership of Abellio and Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company
Franchise dates: December 2017 to March 2026
Lumo

Website: lumo.co.uk

Company legal name and company number: East Coast Trains Limited 08765536
Owning group: FirstGroup
Franchise dates: October 2021 – October 2031

Owning Groups

Abellio (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
Wholly owned:
- East Midlands Railway
- ScotRail
Part ownership:
- Greater Anglia
- London Northwestern Railway
- Merseyrail
- Stansted Express (run by Greater Anglia)
- West Midlands Railway
Website: https://www.abellio.com/
Arriva UK Trains (Deutsche Bahn)
Wholly owned:
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- Grand Central
- London Overground (Arriva Rail London)
Website: http://www.arriva.co.uk/countries/uk
DfT OLR Holdings
Wholly owned:
- London North Eastern Railway
- Northern
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/dft-olr-holdings-limited
FirstGroup
Wholly owned:
- Great Western Railway
- Heathrow Express (run by GWR for Heathrow Airport Holdings)
- Hull Trains
- TransPennine Express
Part ownership:
- Avanti West Coast
- Island Line Trains (run by South Western Railway)
- South Western Railway
Website: http://www.firstgroupplc.com/
Go-Ahead Group
Part ownership:
- Gatwick Express (GTR) (run by Southern)
- Great Northern (GTR)
- Southeastern
- Southern (GTR)
- Thameslink (GTR)
Website: http://www.go-ahead.com/en/index.html
Keolis
Part ownership:
- Gatwick Express (GTR)
- Great Northern (GTR)
- Southeastern
- Southern (GTR)
- Thameslink (GTR)
Website: http://www.keolis.co.uk/
Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company partnership
Part ownership:
- Greater Anglia
- London Northwestern Railway
- Stansted Express
- West Midlands Railway
Websites: Mitsui & Co / East Japan Railway Company
MTR Corporation
Wholly owned:
- TfL Rail
Part ownership:
- Island Line Trains (run by South Western Railway)
- South Western Railway
Website: http://www.mtreurope.com/
Serco
Wholly owned:
- Caledonian Sleeper
Part ownership:
- Merseyrail
Website: https://www.serco.com/
Transport for Wales
Wholly owned:
- Transport for Wales Rail
Website: https://trc.cymru/
Trenitalia
Wholly owned:
- c2c
Part ownership:
- Avanti West Coast
Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en