THE OPERATORS: WHO DOES WHAT
C2C
Owned by: Trenitalia, part of the state-owned Italian rail operator
Franchise period: 2014-29
Main routes: London Fenchurch Street to stations in Essex
CALEDONIAN SLEEPER
Owned by: Serco
Franchise period: 2015-30
Main routes: London Euston to Scottish cities
CHILTERN TRAINS
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains, part of stateowned German operator DB
Franchise period: 2002-21
Main routes: London Marylebone to Aylesbury, Oxford and Birmingham
CROSSCOUNTRY
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains
Franchise period: 2007-19. Renewal postponed due to Williams Review
Main routes: Birmingham to the South West, Cardiff, Nottingham, Stansted, Manchester, Leeds, the North East and Scotland
EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
Owned by: Stagecoach
Franchise period: 2007-19
Main routes: London St Pancras to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield; Norwich to Liverpool
GOVIA THAMESLINK RAILWAY
Owned by: A partnership between Keolis (majority owned by French state-owned operator SNCF) and Go-ahead Group Franchise period: 2015-21
Main routes: London to Bedford, Peterborough and King’s Lynn; and London to Brighton and south coast (including Southern services). Includes Gatwick Express
GRAND CENTRAL
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains. Non-franchised open access operator
Main routes: London King’s Cross to Bradford, York and Sunderland
GREATER ANGLIA
Owned by: A partnership between Abellio (part of Dutch train operator NS) and Japanese rail interests
Franchise period: 2016-25
Main routes: London-norwich; Stansted Express; regional services across East Anglia
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY
Owned by: Firstgroup
Franchise period: 2006-20
Main routes: London Paddington to the West Country, South Wales and Cotswolds; regional services in the South West and Thames Valley
HEATHROW EXPRESS
Owned by: Heathrow Airport, but operated by Great Western. Non-franchised open access operator
Main route: London Paddington to Heathrow
HULL TRAINS
Owned by: Firstgroup
Non-franchised open access operator. Main route: London King’s Cross to Hull
LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY
Owned by: Department for Transport Operating period: 2018-20, when new franchise is due to start
Main routes: London King’s Cross to Peterborough, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness
LONDON NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY
Owned by: West Midlands Trains, a partnership between Abellio and Japanese rail interests
Franchise period: 2017-26
Main routes: London to Birmingham and Crewe; Birmingham to Liverpool; local services in West Midlands
LONDON OVERGROUND
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains, operating on behalf of Transport for London
Franchise period: 2016-24
Main routes: Local services around London
MERSEYRAIL
Owned by: A partnership between Abellio and Serco
Franchise period: 2003-28
Main routes: Local services around Merseyside
NORTHERN
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains
Franchise period: 2016-25
Main routes: Local and regional services throughout the North
SCOTRAIL
Owned by: Abellio, operating on behalf of the Scottish government
Franchise period: 2015-25
Main routes: Most services within Scotland
SOUTHEASTERN
Owned by: A partnership between Keolis and Go-ahead Group
Franchise period: 2006-19
Main routes: London to Kent, including highspeed services from St Pancras; local services around south London.
SOUTHERN
Owned by: see Govia Thameslink Railway
SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY
Owned by: A partnership between Firstgroup and Hong Kong rail operator MTR
Franchise period: 2017-24
Main routes: London to the south coast – including Portsmouth, Southampton and Weymouth – and Exeter; local services around south London
TFL RAIL
Owned by: Transport for London
Franchise period: 2015-23
Main routes: East London services. Will also operate Crossrail (Elizabeth Line) when it opens
TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
Owned by: Firstgroup
Franchise period: 2016-23
Main routes: Liverpool and Manchester Airport to Yorkshire and the North East; Manchester Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh; Manchester to Hull and Cleethorpes
TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL
Owned by: A partnership between Keolis and Amey, operating on behalf of Transport for Wales
Franchise period: 2018-33
Main routes: Most services within Wales, and to Birmingham and Manchester
VIRGIN TRAINS
Owned by: A partnership between Virgin Group and Stagecoach
Franchise period: 1997-2020
Main routes: London to the West Midlands, North West, North Wales and Scotland; Birmingham to Scotland