Publication scheme
Details of the classes of information we publish and how we make that information available.
About DFT Operator Limited
DfT Operator Limited is a company which is wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Transport. It was established to act as the holding company of any Department for Transport (DfT) train operating company and to provide detailed stewardship of these company’ activities.
Additional information can be found on the DfT Operator Limited website.
Train operating companies
Currently, DfT Operator Limited manages the following train operating companies. Each of these companies operates under DfT Operator Limited’s oversight, with independent websites and publication schemes detailing their services, performance, and commitments to transparency.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
Following the termination of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise in June 2018, management of the East Coast mainline was transferred to LNER, a company operated by DfT Operator Limited. LNER is responsible for day-to-day operations and has its own publication scheme.
Northern Trains Limited (Northern)
Northern Rail services came under DfT Operator Limited’s management in March 2020 after the previous franchise ended. Northern operates services across the North of England, ensuring essential connectivity in the region.
Southeastern (SE Trains Limited)
In October 2021, Southeastern services transitioned to DfT Operator Limited after the Department for Transport decided not to renew the previous franchise agreement. Southeastern operates across South East England, including routes to London, Kent, and East Sussex.
TransPennine Trains Limited (TPE)
TransPennine Express was brought into the DfT OLR Holdings Limited group in May 2023, following the government’s decision to terminate the contract with the previous operator, FirstGroup.
South Western Railway (SWR)
South Western Railway (SWR) was the first to join DfT Operator Ltd (DfTO) in May 2025, as part of the government’s strategy to nationalise rail services and form the new Great British Railway (GBR).
Contact South Western Railway.
c2c
c2c was the second operator to join DFTO in July 2025 as part of the journey towards GBR.
Greater Anglia (GA)
Greater Anglia joined DFTO in October 2025.
West Midlands Trains (WMT)
West Midlands Trains joined DFTO in February 2026.
Contact West Midlands Railway.
Contact London Northwestern Railway.
Freedom of Information
DFTO is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
This means that any person has the right to ask us for any recorded information we hold and have that information provided to them unless specific limited exemptions or exceptions outlined in the FOIA or EIR apply.
You can submit a Freedom of Information request by email to foi@dftoperator.co.uk.
Or by post to:
FOI team
Waterloo General Office
2nd Floor Walker Suite
Waterloo Station
London
SE1 8SW
Internal review
After receiving our response, if you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled and wish to request a review of our decision, please write to the FOI team at:
FOI team
Waterloo General Office
2nd Floor Walker Suite
Waterloo Station
London
SE1 8SW
Or email us at foi@dftoperator.co.uk.
Your request must be submitted within 40 working days of receipt of our response.
Please specify why you do not agree with the response and what factors you would like to be considered as part of the review.
This should include any public interest arguments for disclosure. A list of our previous disclosures is available on GOV.UK.
Website addresses
The information you are looking for may be available on the DFT Operator Limited’s website, or the train operating company’s website, or from the following organisations on their websites. However, DfT Operator Limited takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided by those external organisations or made available on their websites.
Publication scheme
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) requires public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme, the purpose of which is to:
- specify the classes of information we have committed to publish
- say how we will make that information available
- say whether the information is available free of charge or on payment
Most of the information covered by our publication scheme will be made available on this website. If you need information in an alternative format, we will do all we reasonably can to help.
Our publication scheme follows the Information Commissioner’s model publication scheme for public authorities.
About this publication scheme
This publication scheme is not a list of individual publications but rather a description of the classes or types of information that we are committed to publishing.
The scheme is not an exhaustive list of all the types of information that we publish.
The scheme does not include information that we consider to be sensitive, such as certain types of commercial or personal information, or information about security matters or which comprises legal advice.
Most of DFT Operator Limited’s publications, including priced publications, are available online. Where publications are not available online, details of how to obtain hardcopies are provided.
Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme
Most of our information can be accessed from this website free of charge. Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:
- photocopying
- postage and packaging
- the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information
Where a fee is applicable, DfT Operator Limited will notify you of the amount before the information is provided. Payment may need to be made in advance.
Feedback about the scheme
If you would like to provide feedback about this publication scheme or if you require further assistance, please contact us:
DfT Operator Limited
Waterloo General Office, 2nd Floor
Waterloo Station
London
SE1 8SW
Classes of information
The classes of information currently published are set out below. All this information is available online unless noted otherwise.
Class 1 – who we are and what we do
Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.
DfT Operator Limited contacts.
Details about DfT Operator Limited (formerly DOHL) are published on GOV.UK, including:
- ownership
- key facts on DfT Operator Limited
- the vision, values and goals
- directors
Any legislation relevant to DfT Operator Limited can be accessed from The National Archives.
Class 2 – what we spend and how we spend it
Financial information relating to predicted and annual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.
Annual report and accounts are available on GOV.UK.
Class 3 – what our priorities are and how we are doing
Strategies and plans, performance information, assessments, inspections and reviews.
Public ownership of rail services: facts and figures.
Great British Railways and the public ownership programme.
Transparency and freedom of information releases.
Answers provided by the Department for Transport to Parliamentary Questions relevant to DfT Operator Limited are available from the UK Parliament Hansard.
Reports and publications from the Office for Rail and Road, the railway’s safety and economic regulator.
Railway data published by ORR.
Class 4 – how we make decisions
Policy proposals and decisions, decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.
DFTO supply chain code of conduct.
Public consultations carried out by DfT Operator will be available on the DfT Operator Limited website.
Class 5 – our policies and procedures
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.
DOHL corporate plan 2022 to 2023.
Class 6 – lists and registers
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority
Company House – DfT Operator Limited company information.
Class 7 – services we offer
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services we offer.
Reproducing our publications
DFTO is a Crown body and our information is subject to Crown copyright administered by The National Archives (TNA).
You can re-use or reproduce our content under the terms of the Open Government Licence.