Charters: who does what?

No charter train can operate without a network of partners coming together to provide marketing/sales, planning, timetabling, rolling stock, locomotives, catering and crews.

The biggest players in the market, West Coast Railways and Locomotive Services Limited, combine several of these functions. Others, including UK Railtours, the Branch Line Society and Pathfinder Tours, focus on promoting trains and engaging operators to run them.

Currently, West Coast Railways, LSL, DB Cargo, Direct Rail Services, GB Railfreight and Rail Operations Group (ROG) have nationwide passenger licences that allow them to operate charter trains across the network.

This usually takes the form of liaising with Network Rail to allocate suitable train paths, supplying or hiring locomotives and crews, and in some cases providing rolling stock to fulfil requests from promoters.

Alongside all this is Riviera Trains, a specialist rolling stock provider working with promoters and operators to supply sets of ex-BR Mk 1 and Mk 2 coaches for charter trains, spot hire and major events.