National infrastructure manager of Great Britain

 NRIL - Network Rail

Network length, gauge and electrification (2020):

Network Rail is the national British infrastructure managament company that took over after Railtrack went bankrupt. Since summer 2010 the Network Rail test trains are operated by DB Cargo (previously by Serco).

In 2021 Great British Railways (GBR) was founded. This public body will coordinate much of the railway operation in the UK, including fares. Regional and national networks will still be operated by private companies but with much less focus on revenue and profit (passenger service contracts instead of franchises). Network Rail will be part of Great British Railways.

Website: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/

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Railway Operators in Great Britain

 BR - British Railways Board ("British Rail")

The former network of BR has been split up between different private railway companies that could bid for franchises. The rolling stock of the passenger companies is owned by leasing companies like Angel, Porterbrook, Forward Trust and Fragonset Railways.
In 2009/2010 all passenger operating companies together produced 51.1 billion passenger-km, 0.6% more than in the previous year. Only Virgin and London Midland saw substantial growth.

Website: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

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 AWC - Avanti West Coast

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

On 7 december 2019 Avanti West Coast, a joint venture of Trenitalia from Italy and FirstGroup from the UK, took over the West Coast franchise for 12 years. By 2022 the Voyager diesel trainsets will be replaced by 23 new diesel and hybrid trainsets, probably from Hitachi.
AWC provides InterCity train services between London Euston and the West Midlands, the North West and North Wales and over the border into Scotland. There are regular weekday services every 30 minutes between London and Birmingham, every hour between London and Manchester, Liverpool and Preston.

For many years Virgin trains operated the former InterCity West Coast and Cross Country franchises. In November 2007 the Cross Country franchise was taken over by Arriva, but the line Birmingham-Preston-Glasgow/Edinburgh was added to the West Coast franchise. In 2009/2010 Virgin produced 5.255 billion passenger-km, 18% more than in the year before. In 2023 the contract to operate West Coast was extended with 9 more years.

The extension of 21 Pendolino sets to 11 cars and the introduction of 4 extra sets has taken place in 2012.

Website: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/

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 CC - c2c Rail Ltd. (former LTS Rail Ltd.)

Network length, gauge and electrification (1999):

This company operates trains on the London, Tilbury & Southend line, from London Fenchurch Street through Upminster or Tilbury Town to Southend Central and Shoeburyness. About 25 million passengers travel with c2c every year, in 2009/2010 they produced 905 million passenger-km (-1.5%).
The franchise was originally let to Prism Rail, which in the mean time sold out to National Express Group PLC. The franchise expired in November 2014, but c2c will continue to operate the trains of this franchise (Essex Thameside) for another 15 years, up to November 2029. In the mean time c2c is now owned by Trenitalia UK, a subsidiary of the Italian national railway operator.

Website: http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/

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 COLGB - Colas Rail Ltd

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

Colas Rail is a maintenance train operator, which later also started freight services in the UK. It is a subsidiary of French holing company Colas, which is amongst others the parent company of French infrastructure train operator Seco Rail (in the mean time also renamed into Colas).

Website: http://www.colasrail.co.uk/

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 CR - Chiltern Railways Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (1999):

This company operates trains over the Chiltern Line out of London Marylebone station to Aylesbury and Birmingham Snow Hill-Kidderminster, on the branch to Stratford-upon-Avon plus a shuttle service between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury. CR transports about 1.1 million passengers per year, in 2009/2010 they produced 945 million passenger-km (-2.3%).
The franchise of this company has been let to M40 Railways (Management Team). This was renewed in 2002 for an extra 20 years and now runs up to December 2021. In October 2006 German insurance company Allianz Infrastructure Holdings took over the shares from John Laing, they now own the company. In early 2008 the German Railways (DBAG) took over and now operates Chiltern Railways.

The contract to operate the Chiltern lines was extended in December 2021 for at least 39 months, with options to run for 6 years until December 2027.

Website: http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/

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 DBSUK - DB-Cargo UK (former EWS)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2011):

In 2007 DB Schenker (from Germany) became the owner of the then largest UK freight train operator, EWS (English, Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd.), after buying all the shares.
EWS (actually Wisconsin Central from the USA) bought the former BR freight train operating units Loadhaul, Mainline Freight, Rail Express Systems and Transrail. In spring 1997 they also acquired Railfreight Distribution such that freight traffic was almost in the hand of one company again. In addition they acquired National Power transportation and locomotives in April 1998.
In 2006 EWS formed 4 divisions: EWS Energy, EWS Industrial, EWS Construction and EWS Network.
In June 2010 DB Schenker has taken over the operation of the mail trains from GBRf. In 2016 DB Schenker Rail was renamed into DB Cargo.

Website: http://uk.dbcargo.com/

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 DRS - Direct Rail Services Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2011):

This company is owned by British Nuclear Fuels. It transports radioactive waste trains between Sellafield, Barrow Docks and Drigg and chemical trains to Northwich. At the end of 2007 DRS took over the operations of Victa Westlink Rail, a company that emerged after the end of operations of FM Rail.

In April 2021 the parent company of DRS, Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) will combine its subsidiary Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. with DRS, forming one logistics company for nuclear transport named Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS).
The primary objective of NTS will be to support the activities of the NDA, including transporting spent Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor fuel from UK power stations to Sellafield, moving irradiated fuels from Dounreay, or returning reprocessing products to customers overseas. It will be a part of the NDA’s effort to create a single waste division, with an integrated waste management program too. Last but not least, the company will keep on providing transport services for customers outside of the nuclear sector.

Website: https://www.directrailservices.com/

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 EMR - East Midlands Railway

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

East Midlands Trains Ltd. - a subsidiary of Stagecoach - operated the former Midland Mainline franchise out of London St. Pancras and the eastern part of the Central Trains franchise, combined in the new East Midlands Franchise. The franchise ran from November 2007 up to August 2019, after an extension in 2015 and 2017. In 2009/2010 EMT produced 1.945 million passenger-km, 1.3% less than the previous year.

In August 2019 the franchise was taken over by Abellio, using the new name East Midlands Railway. New bi-mode trainsets are ordered to replace the remaining high-speed trains (HST) and class 222 "Meridian" trainsets.

Abellio uses different brand names for its services:

Website: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/

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 FL - Freightliner Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):

This company was sold to a Management Team. They mainly operate container and other intermodal trains. In June 2008 the company was sold to investment firm Arcapita based in Bahrain. In 2013 it was announced that Freightliner will take over ERS Railways (The Netherlands) from Maersk Line. ERS mainly operates freight trains from the port of Rotterdam to Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In the mean time ERS does not exist anymore and Freightliner is owned by Genesee & Wyoming from the USA.

In 2019 Freightliner took over the Mendip Rail contract, including locomotives class 59/0 and 59/1 from Mendip Rail and 59/2 from DB.

Website: http://www.freightliner.co.uk/

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 GAR - Greater Anglia Railway

Network length, gauge and electrification (2008):

Since 5 February 2012 Abellio operates the East Anglia franchise, taken over from National Express, and before 'one' - London Eastern Railway Ltd. On the 1st of April 2004 'one' started operating the Greater Anglia franchise, consisting of the "old" Anglia Railways, first Great Eastern and the West Anglia half of West Anglia Great Eastern. This company operates all trains out of London Liverpool Street station. These consist of InterCity trains to Norwich, and many local trains to the northeast of London like Harwich, Lowestoft, Cambridge and Peterborough.

From 5 February 2012 the East Anglia franchise was operated by Abellio Greater Anglia (a subsidiary of the Dutch Railways NS) until October 2016. From October 2016 Abellio continues to operate the franchise (rebranded into Greater Anglia again) until 2025. All trains will be replaced or modernised, with 660 new Aventra EMU coaches ordered from Bombardier and 383 dual-mode FLIRT coaches ordered from Stadler. In March 2017 Abellio sold 40% of the business to Mitsui from Japan.

In 2023 the Abellio part of the company was sold to the management, ending the presence of Abellio in the UK.

Website: http://www.greateranglia.co.uk/

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 GBRf - GB Railfreight Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):

This new company started in March 2001. It is was subsidiary of GB Railways Group PLC, intended for freight operation. GB Railways Group PLC was acquired by First Group PLC in 2003.
From June 2010 the mail trains operated by GBRf were taken over by DB Schenker. In the beginning of June 2010 it was announced that Eurotunnel was to take over GBRf from First, becoming part of the Europorte 2 freight operations of this (French) company. In 2016 the company was sold to investment fund EQT Infrastructure II that also owns Hector Rail from Sweden. In 2019 GB Railfreight was sold to Infracapital (M&G Prudential).

From 2015 GBRf operates the Caledonian Sleeper night trains from London to Scotland for Serco, using electric locomotives class 92 and diesel locomotives class 73/9.

Website: http://www.gbrailfreight.com/

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 GTL - Grand Central Railway Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):

Grand Central Railway Ltd. (GTR) was set up in 2000, so as to avail on the opportunities for open-access contemplated in the Railways Act 1993, with a particular view to operating mainline services in Northern England, on routes either ignored or poorly served by BR and its franchised successors.

In 2003, GTR had applied for paths so as to run services on Newcastle-Preston (for Blackpool), via Sunderland, York , Wakefield , Brighouse, Rochdale and Manchester , using 5-car HSTs, running 4 times a day. The SRA and the ORR rebuked this attempt in 2004, but GCR quickly stroke back and sought paths for:

Later on, GTL offered to use 5-car Meridian DMUs, so that Bradford and Sunderland services could jointly run on London-Doncaster.

On 23rd March, the ORR upheld the application for London-Sunderland, and granted 3 daily paths each way to GTL, for 5 years (2007/2011). GTL is to start those services on 20th May 2007, using refurbished HSTs, and still eyes other open-access services:

The service actually started on 18 December 2007.

At the end of 2011 Grand Central was bought by Arriva. The Grand Central brand will still be used in the future.

Plans for a new Blackpool-London service were abandoned in September 2020.

Website: http://www.grandcentralrail.com/

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 GTR - Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2014):

In 2014 the former Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises were combined and let to Govia. Govia will operate the company in 4 different parts reflecting the old franchises: Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express. The franchise will run for 7 years. In 2022 the contract was renewed until at least 1 April 2025, with an option for 3 more years.

Southern consists of mainly 3rd rail electric trains out of London Bridge and London Victoria station. The also operate services along the south coast from Brighton up to Eastbourne/Ashford and to Southampton/Bournemouth.
Gatwick Express operates trains from London to Gatwick Airport, now mainly continuing towards Brighton.

Thameslink consists of services from Bedford through London St. Pancras and Blackfriars to Sutton, Brighton and Sevenoaks.
Great Northern services consist of trains running from London King's Cross or Moorgate towards Hertford North, Peterborough and Cambridge-King's Lynn.

Websites: http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/, http://www.southernrailway.com/, https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/ and http://www.gatwickexpress.com/

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 GWR - Great Western Trains Company Ltd. ("Great Western Railway")

Network length, gauge and electrification (2006):

In 2017, with the extension of the franchise, the name of the company has been changed from First Great Western into Great Western Railway.
Since 1 April 2006 until 2013 (extended in several steps) FirstGroup PLC operates the new Greater Western franchise. This franchise consists of the old Great Western Franchise (now GWR Express), First Great Western Link/Thames Trains (GWR Link) and Wessex Trains (GWR Local) and now runs until 31 March 2023 with an option for another year, after extension in 2020.
GWR Express provides InterCity Services between London, South Wales, the Cotswold and the West of England. They operate out of London Paddington Station. GWR Link operates the important Thames Valley commuter trains, as well as longer-distance services to Stratford-upon-Avon and Hereford, and the important Reading-Gatwick Airport link. GWR Local operates regional trains in Wessex.
In 2009/2010 GWR produced 5.2 billion passenger-km, 0.5% more than in the previous year.

Since 2020 the railway between London and Cardiff is completely electrified, and operated with new dual-mode trainsets from Hitachi Rail.
In June 2022 GWR was awarded a contract by DfT to continue operating trains on its network until at least 21 June 2025 (opt. +3 more years).

Website: http://www.gwr.com/

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 HT - Hull Trains (First Hull Trains Ltd)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2000):

In the early-90s, BR cut its Intercity through-services on London-Hull from 2 down to 1 daily, while GNER would focus on major routes after taking over the Inter-City East Coast franchise in 1996. In view of this, Hull Trains Ltd. was set up in 2000 by GB Railways Ltd. (80%) and Renaissance Trains Ltd. (20%), so as to operate open-access services on London-Hull.

In September 2000, Hull Trains started 3 daily through-services, actually the very first ever running in the UK on an open-access basis under the Railways Act 1993. In 2004, FirstGroup plc. took over GB Railways including Hull Trains.
Hull Trains Ltd. used to eye other open-access services, connecting Cleethorpes and Lincoln with London, but these will be operated by another subsidiary of Renaissance Trains Ltd., i.e. Humber Coast & City Railway Ltd., which has recently applied for paths to Network Rail.

Website: http://www.hulltrains.net/

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 HX - Heathrow Express Operating Company Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (1999):

The Heathrow Express service between London Paddington station and Heathrow Airport used to be operated by BAA plc, the airport authority. Since June 1998 trains are operated between Paddington and the airport, every 15 minutes. Since May 2018 the Heatrow Connect regional service is operated by TfL Rail as part of the Crossrail franchise (Elisabeth Line). Heathrow Express fast trains are managed by Great Western since August 2018.

Website: http://www.heathrowexpress.com/

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 LD - Lumo

Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):

Lumo provides open-access passenger trains between London and Edinburgh. It is part of the First Group and started operation with 5 new trainsets class 803 in October 2021. The main goal is providing an alternative for flying between these two cities, but there are also intermediate stops.

Website: https://www.lumo.co.uk/

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 LNER - London North Eastern Railway

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

On 24 June 2018, the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise was prematurely terminated. Since then, DOHL Ltd, a government-owned ‘operator of last resort’, has taken over the franchise and begins preparations for the creation of an integrated East Coast Partnership business with a single team managing both operations and infrastructure. For the time being the London North Eastern Railway brand (LNER) will be used, which is the name of the company that operated the East Coast railway prior to nationalisation in 1948. In 2020 the operating agreements were extended to 2023, with an option for another 2 years.

Virgin Trains East Coast was the train operating company in the United Kingdom that operated the InterCity East Coast franchise on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland. It commenced operations on 1 March 2015 (for 8 years), taking over from East Coast. Virgin Trains East Coast was owned by Stagecoach (90%), and Virgin (10%), the franchise was let to ICR (InterCity Railway) that used the Virgin brand.

Website: https://www.lner.co.uk/

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 LOG - London Overgroud Rail Operations Ltd

Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):

The new concession for London Overground (East London and North London lines) was let to MTR Laing Metro Ltd., partly owned by Laing Rail known of the Chiltern franchise and MTR from Hong Kong. In early 2008 DBAG from Germany took over Laing Rail so now owns 50% of London Overground. The concession will run from 11 November 2007 for 7 years (until November 2014), extended in early 2013 to 12 November 2016. Currently major investment is taking place in the lines to be operated, and new trainsets have been ordered.
The network of London Overground consists of two groups of lines: North London Railway (Richmond-Stratford (North London Line), Gospel Oak-Barking, Clapham Jn.-Willesden Jn. (West London Line) and Euston-Watford Jn.) and East London Railway (Dalston Jn.-West Croydon/Crystal Palace).

In 2009/2010 LOG produced 437 million passenger-km, 2.2% more than in the previous year.

Since November 2016 LOG is operated by Arriva for 9.5 years, until May 2026.

Website: https://tfl.gov.uk/

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 MRE - Merseyrail Electrics (2002) Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (1999):

This company operates 3rd rail electric trains on Merseyrail around Liverpool. The original franchise was let to MTL Trust Holdings Ltd. which sold out to Arriva PLC. The company was then renamed to Arriva Trains Merseyside. This franchise ended in 2003. The new franchise has been let for a period of 25 years to NedRailways/Abellio (Dutch Railways) and Serco. In 2009/2010 343 million passenger-km were produced, 9.2% less than in the year before.

Website: http://www.merseyrail.org/

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 NOR - Northern (Northern Trains Ltd.)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2004):

Northern Rail runs passenger trains in the northeast and northwest of England, among which are commuter services around Liverpool and Manchester but also regional trains in very rural areas.
In 2009/2010 Northern produced 1.95 billion passenger-km, 1.2% less than in the previous period.

In December 2004 Serco/NedRailways took over the operation of Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western in the new Northern franchise. This franchise lasted until March 2016. Since 1 April 2016 the Northern franchise is operated by Arriva Rail North Ltd until March 2025. With 98 new 160km/h trainsets (281 cars) all "Pacer" diesel trainsets will be replaced by 2020. On 1 March 2020 the Government has taken over operation of the Northern franchise from Arriva with an Operator of Last Resort (OLR) named Northern Trains Ltd.

Website: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/

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 NYMR - North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the most popular museum railways in the UK. They operate trains on the museum line Grosmont-Pickering. In early 2007 they received a passenger train operating license from Network Rail, and from April 2007 they operate regular trains on Whitby-Grosmont-Glaisdale(-Battersby) with heritage stock.

Website: http://www.nymr.co.uk/

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 SET - Southeastern Railway

Network length, gauge and electrification (1999):

SET operates mainly 3rd rail electric trains in South Eastern England (Kent), serving London Victoria, Blackfriars, Cannon Street and Charing Cross. In 2009 high-speed commuter services over the Channel Tunnel Rail Link were added. In 2009/2010 SE produced 3.8 billion passenger-km, 2.3% less than in the year before.
Due to (financial) problems with the franchise of Connex, the SRA took over the operation of this company (CSE) in November 2003. Since April 2006 the Integrated Kent Franchise (including former SET) is operated by GoVia until June 2018. GoVia will keep on using the brand name "Southeastern".

In October 2021 the Operator of Last Resort (OLR) will taken over the operations of the Southeastern franchise from London & South Eastern Railway (Govia).

Website: http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/

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 SR - ScotRail Trains Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2014):

ScotRail operates both long-distance trains in Scotland and commuter trains around Edinburgh and Glasgow. In April 2015 the franchise was taken over by Abellio from the First group for a period of 10 years, but this was ended in 2022. In 2014 92.7 million passengers travelled with ScotRail.

On 1 April 2022 the Scottish gouvernment took control of the railway network in Scotland, and since then trains are operated by public body ScotRail Trains. This company is overseen by gouvernment body Scottish Rail Holdings. This ends 25 years of private operations of the railways in Scotland.

Website: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/

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 SWR - South Western Railway Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

Since August 20, 2017 South Western Railway operates the South Western franchise, previously operated by Stagecoach. South Western Railway is is operated by the First MTR South Western Trains Ltd joint venture of the UK's FirstGroup (70%) and Hong Kong's MTR Corp (30%). The franchise runs until August 18, 2024, with an option for an extension of up to eleven months at DfT's discretion.

SWT operates mainly 3rd rail electric trains out of London Waterloo to the Southwest (e.g. Portsmouth). Since February 2007 also the Island Line is part of the franchise. The Island Line runs between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight and is operated using rebuilt London Underground trainsets. In 2021 the line was modernised and upgraded from 660 to 750V DC and new trains went into service (from 11/2021).

Website: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/

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TfL - TfL Rail (Elisabeth Line, former Crossrail)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

In May 2015 the Crossrail franchise has started. It was won by Mass Transit Railway from Hong Kong (MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited) that operates the service as TfL Rail. At first only the existing London Liverpool Street - Shenfield service has been taken over, with new lines through the Crossrail tunnels following in 2021 (originally December 2018). In May 2018 the Heathrow Connect service was taken over.

In November 2022 the full through service was introduced: Paddington-Shenfield and Heathrow/Reading-Abbey Wood with 12 trains per hour on the central section. This number will grow to a maximum of 24 during rush hour in 2023.

Websites: https://tfl.gov.uk/, http://www.mtrcrossrail.co.uk/ and http://www.crossrail.co.uk/

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 TfW - Transport for Wales Rail Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2008):

The franchise of Transport for Wales consists of the former "Valley Lines" part of the Wales and Borders franchise (originally the Cardiff Railway Company Ltd., running local trains around Cardiff), and the Welsh part of the original Wales and West, Central Trains and North West Regional Railways franchises.
The franchise of the first was taken over from Prism Rail by National Express, that operated this franchise until November 2003 when Arriva took over. Arriva operated the new franchise for Wales until October 2018.

Since October 2018 Keolis Amey Wales operated the Wales&Borders franchise using the Transport for Wales brand name. In 2020 the management of the railway infrastructure (Core Valley Lines) was transferred from Network Rail to Transport for Wales.
On 7 February 2021 the operation was taken over by the gouvernment, using brand name Transport for Wales Rail Ltd. (a subsidiary of Transport for Wales).

Transport for Wales Rail transports about 21.9 million passengers per year, in 2009/2010 they produced 1.034 billion passenger-km(+2.0%).

Websites: https://tfwrail.wales/ and https://tfw.gov.wales/

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 TPX - First TransPennine Express Ltd.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):

The Trans-Pennine Express franchise has been created in February 2004. FGK, a consortium of First Group and Keolis, operated this franchise until 1 April 2016. 51 new 3-car diesel trainsets have entered service, to replace the old fleet of class 158 and 175 DMUs. In 2009/2010 TPE produced 1.4 billion passenger-km, 5.9% more than in the previous period.

From 1 April 2015 until March 2023 (with an option for 2 more years) First Trans Pennine Express Ltd - now without Keolis - will operate the franchise. New trainsets (2 types) and hauled coach sets have entered service in 2019/2020.

In May 2023 state-owned operator of last resort TransPennine Trains took over operation of this franchise.

Website: http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/

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 WCR - West Coast Railway Company

Network length, gauge and electrification (2005):

WCR operates passenger charter trains, especially the "Jacobite" steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig in Scotland. The company is based in Carnforth, Lancashire.

Website: http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/

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 WMR - West Midlands Trains

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

Since December 2017 West Midland Trains (Abellio 70.1% and JR East/Mitsui 29.9%) operates the West Midlands franchise, until March 2026. New trains are ordered and older trains will be modernised. The franchise covers the operation of services carrying around 74 million passengers/year on a 900 km network which includes regional services on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston, Birmingham, Crewe and Liverpool, and local services in the West Midlands area.
WMT used the brand West Midlands Rail for services centred around Birmingham, as well as some regional services between Birmingham and Shrewsbury/Hereford. It also operates two branch-line routes: the Coventry to Nuneaton line and the Stourbridge Town branch line.
The brand London Northwestern Railway is used for the medium- and long-distance services on the West Coast main line, including suburban and regional services out of London Euston, and services between Birmingham and Liverpool. The Abbey line and the Marston Vale line, which are rural lines that branch off the West Coast main line, are also part of this brand.

Websites: https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/ and https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/

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 XC - Cross Country Trains Ltd (Arriva CrossCountry)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

On 11 November 2007 Arriva has taken over the (slightly modified) CrossCountry franchise from Virgin Trains. Cross Country Trains Ltd is part of the Arriva Group. The franchise was extended in 2016 until November 2019, and will now run until October 2023. In 2023 the franchise was extended for 8 more years.

CrossCountry stretches from Aberdeen to Penzance, and from Stansted to Cardiff. It covers around 1,500 route miles and calls at more than 100 stations. With Birmingham at its core, CrossCountry provides fast services to the major English cities including Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol and Southampton, as well as the capitals of Wales and Scotland. It provides direct links to major UK airports at Birmingham, Southampton and Stansted. Regular hourly services are to be provided from December 2008 on Plymouth-Edinburgh via Leeds, Reading-Newcastle via Doncaster, Manchester-Bournemouth and Manchester-Bristol.

In 2009/2010 XC produced 3.0 billion passenger-km, 0.1% more than the previous year.

Website: http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/

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Locomotive hire/lease/maintenance companies

The companies in this section all own a few locomotives, for hire to other operators or for limited open-access (freight or passenger) trains.

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Last update: 21-09-2023