List of companies operating trains in the United Kingdom
There are many companies operating trains in the United Kingdom, including the operators of franchised and publicly owned passenger services, officially referred to as train operating companies, as distinct from freight operating companies.
Passenger operators in Great Britain
Current operators
There are also a number of light rail systems.Future operating companies
Future operating companies that have been announced by the Department for Transport. These will be the first nationalised operators to take over passenger services since the passing of the Passenger Railway Services Act 2024, which makes public ownership the default option for passenger services.| Operator | Type | Franchise / contract | Parent | Date commencing | Replacing | Code |
| West Midlands Trains (2026) | State-owned operator | West Midlands | DfT Operator | 1 February 2026 | West Midlands Trains | LM |
| First Rail London | London Overground | FirstGroup | 3 May 2026 | Arriva Rail London | LO | |
| Thameslink Southern Great Northern | State-owned operator | Thameslink, Southern and [Great Northern franchise] | DfT Operator | 31 May 2026 | Thameslink Railway">Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)">Thameslink Railway | GN, GX, SN, TL |
Defunct operating companies
Operating companies have ceased to exist for various reasons, including withdrawal of the franchise, the term of the franchise has expired, bankruptcy or merger.Passenger operators in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, passenger trains are NI/Ireland government-owned by Translink or the National Transport Authority. The following brands are used:- Northern Ireland Railways
- Enterprise service from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central on the Belfast-Dublin line joint venture between Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann.
UK Railtour operators
- Pathfinder Tours
- Scottish Railway Preservation Society
- Venice-Simplon Orient Express
- Vintage Trains
- West Coast Railways
- Locomotive Services Limited
- Hanson and Hall
- Belmond Royal Scotsman
- Belmond Brittanic Explorer
- Enthusiast railtours
- Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
- Irish Railway Record Society
- The Modern Railway Society of Ireland