Rail franchising

All current documents relating to rail franchising at the Department for Transport.

From:: Department for Transport
Published: 3 October 2013
Last updated: 3 April 2024 — See all updates

Passenger rail services are being transferred from franchised services to publicly owned services. Find out more about the rail public ownership programme.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is the franchising authority for the rail network, but the way passenger rail services are operated is changing.

On 4 December 2024, the government launched the rail public ownership programme and announced the first services to transfer into public ownership.

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 makes provision for rail passenger services to be provided by public sector operators, instead of by means of franchises. The transfer of passenger services operated under contracts with DfT is expected to complete by the end of 2027.

Chiltern franchise

A commuter and long-distance franchise that runs passenger services between London and Birmingham, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Aylesbury.

Chiltern Railway Company Limited 2021 rail contract

Cross Country franchise

An intercity franchise that provides passenger services across the whole country stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance, Bournemouth to Manchester and Stansted to Cardiff.

XC Trains Limited 2023 rail contract

East Anglia franchise

A commuter and regional franchise providing passenger services between London (Liverpool Street), Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich as well as local and regional services across the east of England.

These services were taken into public ownership in October 2025.

East Midlands franchise

An intercity and regional franchise that provides passenger services between London (St Pancras), the East Midlands and Yorkshire (Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds) and all the central England services linking Nottingham, Derby, Worksop, Lincoln, Cleethorpes, Skegness, Leicester and Cambridge.

Abellio East Midlands Limited 2022 rail contract

Essex Thameside franchise

A commuter franchise providing services into London from south-east Essex along the Thames.

These services were taken into public ownership in July 2025.

Great Western franchise

A commuter and intercity franchise including high speed train services between London (Paddington), South Wales, the Cotswolds, the West Country and rural services.

First Greater Western 2022 rail contract

InterCity East Coast franchise

An intercity franchise providing long distance services between London (Kings Cross) and Aberdeen. Its services call at the major cities of London, Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

These services were taken into public ownership in May 2018.

Northern franchise

A regional franchise consisting of a range of inter-urban, commuter and rural services throughout the north of England.

These services were taken into public ownership in March 2021.

South Eastern franchise

A commuter franchise that operates passenger services in the south-east London suburbs, the whole of Kent and part of Sussex, which are primarily commuter services to and from central London.

These services were taken into public ownership in October 2021.

South Western franchise

A commuter and regional franchise that operates an intensive network of suburban and long-distance services between London Waterloo, south-west London and towns and cities in the south-west of England, including the Island Line services on the Isle of Wight.

These services were taken into public ownership in May 2025.

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise

A commuter interurban and regional franchise bringing together Thameslink and Great Northern services with Southern services.

Thameslink provides intensive inter-urban services across London (including the key stations of St Pancras International and London Bridge) and to the north and south of the city (between Bedford and Brighton) and out to East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Great Northern runs between London King’s Cross and Moorgate to Hertford North, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn.

Southern operates predominantly commuter services between London, Surrey and Sussex, plus Gatwick and Brighton, as well as south coast services between Southampton, Brighton, Hastings and Ashford. It also operates Metro services in south London and the Gatwick Express service.

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern 2022 rail contract

TransPennine Express franchise

An intercity and regional operator providing long distance inter-urban services, across both north-east and north-west England including to Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Manchester Airport.

These services were taken into public ownership in May 2023.

Wales and Borders franchise

These services were taken into public ownership, under the control of Transport for Wales, in 2021.

Wales and Borders rail franchise 2018: devolution agreements

West Coast Partnership franchise

The operator of this franchise provides intercity railway passenger services on the West Coast Main Line from London (Euston) to the West Midlands, north west England, North Wales and Scotland. It serves the cities of London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

In addition, under the national rail contract, they provide consulting, testing, mobilisation and shadow operator services relating to rail passenger services on the High Speed Two (HS2) network.

West Coast Partnership 2023 rail contract

West Midlands franchise

A commuter and regional franchise providing passenger services between Birmingham and the Midlands and major cities and towns including London (Euston), Milton Keynes, Northampton, Liverpool, Stafford, Stoke and Crewe. It also provides local and regional services across the West Midlands.

West Midlands Trains Limited 2021 rail contract