List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom
This list provides an overview of all railway companies in the United Kingdom, which emerged after the privatization of British Rail in 1994 and received again. For earlier societies see list of former railway companies in the United Kingdom for small and heritage railways see the small and Heritage Railways in the UK list.
Great Britain
Since the privatization of British Rail trains will be operated on the rail network of Britain from numerous private railway companies. Similar to the rail transport in Germany also awards in the British passenger generally the Ministry of Transport of the United Kingdom concessions for regional rail networks according to the franchising principle, to who can apply to the train operating companies. For all routes innerschottischen the Scottish Transport Ministry is in accordance with the devolution principle responsible for the tender, for the Liverpool suburb routes ( Merseyrail ) the regional transport authority Merseytravel. By 2005, the Strategic Rail Authority was responsible for the award of all concessions.
However, businesses in addition can also independently offer passenger services (open access), have then - unlike some operators less lucrative franchises - are not entitled to any subsidy. Tracks and signals do not fall under the jurisdiction of the train operating companies, but are the responsibility of the infrastructure company Network Rail ( Railtrack successor since 2002 ).
At first glance it may look as if a large number of companies is active. In reality, many of these companies are part of larger transport companies such as First Group or Stagecoach, which was able to acquire more licenses and this leads under different names. The franchises can unlike in Germany, for organizational reasons not be operated by the parent company directly, as in a transition of the franchise to another company employees (transfers / Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employees ) and ownership is transferred.
The hervorgangenen from the break-up of British Rail railway companies perceive their interests by the Association of Train Operating Companies. Under the brand name National Rail and the logo of the former British Rail, this association organizes a common tariff structure with a single ticket offer.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the rail network was never privatized, the local society Northern Ireland Railways ( NIR) still belongs to the state and, together with two bus companies, the holding company Translink. The NIR has together with the Irish State Railways Iarnród Éireann, the joint subsidiary enterprise, which offers cross-border trains between Belfast and Dublin.
An overview of former and existing railway companies to Ireland provides the list of Irish railway companies.
Current train operating companies
Of May 2010
Resolved train operating companies
A number of train operating companies have ceased to exist for several reasons: Premature return of the concession, the concession expires without renewal, bankruptcy or merger with another company.
Of May 2010
Freight traffic
- Colas Rail
- DB Schenker Rail (UK)
- Direct Rail Services
- Fast Line
- Freightliner
- GB Railfreight
- Mendip Rail
Independent railway companies
- Ffestiniog Railway