Passenger Train Operating Companies

The passenger trains in Great Britain are run by a number of Train Operating Companies, each with responsibility for particular lines or groups of services. Since privatisation, most of these have been operated under a franchise arrangement. Owing to various circumstances, many of the existing franchises have been converted to management agreements, and in some cases taken into government control. In future, all are likely to be combined into a new entity, Great British Railways.

In addition, there are a few independent operators that run passenger trains on an open access basis. These are listed separately below.

Operators determined by Department for Transport

Operators determined by Transport Scotland

Operator determined by Transport for Wales / Trafnidiaeth Cymru

Operators determined by Transport for London

Operator determined by Merseytravel

Operator determined by Department for Transport

in future determined by Transport for West Midlands

Open Access Operators

Proposed Open Access Operator

Various tourist trains operating on the main line network also run as Open Access Operators.

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