THE UK'S TRAIN OPERATORS: WHO'S WHO
Owned by: Trenitalia, part of the state-owned Italian rail operator.
Franchise period: 2014-29.
Main routes: London Fenchurch Street to destinations in Essex.
CALEDONIAN SLEEPER
Owned by: Serco.
Franchise period: 2015-30.
Main routes: Overnight services from London Euston to major 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.
Main routes: Birmingham to the South West, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Nottingham, Stansted, Manchester, Leeds, the North East and Scotland. Franchise renewal postponed indefinitely due to the Williams Review.
EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
Owned by: Abellio, part of Dutch train operator NS, which replaced Stagecoachowned East Midlands Trains in August 2019. Franchise period: 2019-27.
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 other south coast cities (including Thameslink services via central London); plus local services across south London. Many routes carry Great Northern or Southern branding, and it includes the Gatwick Express service.
GRAND CENTRAL
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains. Non-franchised open access operator.
Main routes: London King’s Cross to Bradford, York and Sunderland.
Owned by: A partnership between Abellio and Japanese rail interests.
Franchise period: 2016-25.
Main routes: London-norwich; Stansted Express; regional services throughout
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 London Heathrow Airport.
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 Tren Abellio (part of Dutch train operator NS) 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 (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 Liverpool.
Owned by: Arriva UK Trains.
Franchise period: 2016-25.
Main routes: Services throughout the North.
SCOTRAIL
Owned by: Abellio (on behalf of the Scottish government).
Franchise period: 2015-25.
Main routes: Most services within Scotland.
SOUTHEASTERN
Owned by: A partnership between Keolis (majority owned by French state-owned operator SNCF) and Go-ahead Group. Franchise period: 2006-19. Franchise renewal postponed due to the Williams Review.
Main routes: London to Kent; local services around south London.
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 and Exeter; local services around south London.
TFL RAIL
Owned by: Transport for London. Franchise period: 2015-23.
Main routes: East London. It will 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 North East; Manchester Airport to Edinburgh and Glasgow; Manchester to Hull and Cleethorpes.
TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL
Owned by: A partnership between Keolis and Amey (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: 1997-2019. To be replaced in December by a partnership between Firstgroup and Trenitalia (franchise to 2031). Main routes: London to the West Midlands, North West, North Wales and Scotland; Birmingham to Scotland.