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List of Train Operating Companies on the National Rail website Archived 4 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine; Map of Train Operating Companies on the National Rail website; Barry Doe's colour-coded map showing operator(s) on each route (Large PDF)
Gatwick Express, the third railway service to be franchised in 1996. Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain is the system of contracting the operation of the passenger services on the railways of Great Britain to private companies, which has been in effect since 1996 and was greatly altered in 2020, with rail franchising being effectively abolished in May 2021.
Current railway lines in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man are shown in black, metro lines in red, and former routes in green Rail passengers in Great Britain from 1829 to 2023, showing the early era of small railway companies, the amalgamation into the "Big Four", nationalisation and finally the current era of privatisation
Great Britain's railway system was built by private companies, but it was nationalised by the Transport Act 1947 and was run from then onwards by British Railways (which traded as British Rail from 1965) until privatisation, which was begun in 1994 and completed in 1997. Infrastructure, passenger, and freight services were separated at that time.
British Railways: From 1948 to 1994 the 'mainline' railway network was in the hands of the single nationalised operator, British Railways (later promoted as British Rail). Post-privatisation companies: From 1994, a number of privately owned companies have operated and maintained 'mainline' railway track and trains.
The Rail Delivery Group is the coordinating body of the train operating companies in Great Britain and owns the National Rail brand, which uses the former British Rail double-arrow logo and organises the common ticketing structure. Many of the train operating companies are in fact parts of larger companies which operate multiple franchises.
In some countries, the railway operating bodies are not companies, but are government departments or authorities. Particularly in many European countries beginning in the late-1980s, with privatizations and the separation of the track ownership and management from running the trains, there are now many track-only companies and train-only companies.
During February 1997, it was acquired by the Midland Bank and briefly renamed Forward Trust, and again renamed HSBC Rail. The company has primarily operated within the UK market, but between 2000 and 2009, HSBC Rail was also active on the European leasing market as well, before selling off this arm of the business to rival leasing firm Beacon Rail.