UK’S MAIN RAIL FRANCHISES
ARRIVA WALES
Shrewsbury – Swansea line.
It also covers Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham
FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT
A FirstGroup franchise, it runs from Bedford to Brighton via Luton. Also Luton to Wimbledon and Sutton.
NATIONAL EXP. EAST ANGLIA
Trains run from London Liverpool Street to Sheffield, Chelmsford, and Peterborough.
Trains run from London Liverpool Street to Sheffield, Chelmsford, and Peterborough.
SOUTH WEST TRAINS
Part of Stagecoach group, it was the first part of British Rail to be privatised. It goes to Hampshire, Dorset and Surrey.
Part of Stagecoach group, it was the first part of British Rail to be privatised. It goes to Hampshire, Dorset and Surrey.
CROSS COUNTRY TRAINS
From Penzance to Aberdeen, from Cardiff to Stansted Airport and from Manchester to Bournemouth. Virgin used to operate the lines.
From Penzance to Aberdeen, from Cardiff to Stansted Airport and from Manchester to Bournemouth. Virgin used to operate the lines.
FIRST GREAT WESTERN
Formed from the merger of First Great Western, First Great Western Link and and Wessex Trains. It runs to Swansea and Penzance.
Formed from the merger of First Great Western, First Great Western Link and and Wessex Trains. It runs to Swansea and Penzance.
NATIONAL EXP. EAST COAST
Services between London, north England and Scotland via Kings X, Peterborough, Leeds, Doncaster, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh.
SOUTH EASTERN
A subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between The Go-Ahead Group and Keolis. It covers London and the South East.
A subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between The Go-Ahead Group and Keolis. It covers London and the South East.
C2C
Owned by National Express, the line goes from London Fenchurch Street to Tilbury via Basildon.
FIRST HULL TRAINS
Another FirstGroup franchise, which operates local trains in Hull and the surrounding area.
Another FirstGroup franchise, which operates local trains in Hull and the surrounding area.
NORTHERN
A joint venture between Serco Group and NedRailways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dutch Railways (NS).
A joint venture between Serco Group and NedRailways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dutch Railways (NS).
SOUTHERN
Southern is part of the Govia Group. It goes to Brighton and Lewes from London.
Southern is part of the Govia Group. It goes to Brighton and Lewes from London.
EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
Runs from London to Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
Runs from London to Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
FIRST TRANS PENNINE
A joint venture between First Group and Keolis. The line goes to Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool and Kendal.
A joint venture between First Group and Keolis. The line goes to Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool and Kendal.
SCOTRAIL
Part of FirstGroup, ScotRail operates 95 per cent of all services in Scotland. It was operated by National Express until 2004.
Part of FirstGroup, ScotRail operates 95 per cent of all services in Scotland. It was operated by National Express until 2004.
VIRGIN
A joint venture between Virgin Group and Stagecoach, it runs between London and Glasgow via Manchester on the west coast.
A joint venture between Virgin Group and Stagecoach, it runs between London and Glasgow via Manchester on the west coast.